Know the Power
OPENING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, help us to seek your power to deliver us from our addictions and weaknesses. Amen
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 NIV
REFLECT:
Overcome addiction by knowing the power to change only comes from God. Sometimes it seems the more we try the harder things get. When we take on the challenge to overcome an obstacle, all the forces of evil step in to distract us and derail our efforts. In Romans 7 and 8 Paul describes the battle of our mind that can leave us somewhat confused. However in his summation of this battle he brings clarity with the following statement… Romans 7:25b NIV “So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”
So often we misunderstand God’s freedom. There are habits in our lives we’ve tried to conquer for years yet why are we still struggling? Where is the victory?
APPLY:
As we go through challenges, we see that true freedom is not from our own efforts but the work of God in our lives. This does not mean we do not exert our own energy in a challenge but that we are trusting in God’s power to deliver us. He can use our feeble strength to bring his victory into our lives. II Corinthians 13: 9-10 NIV “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” God’s power in us IS our victory. Embrace his strength as your own.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father; thank you for your strength. We trust you to help us as we acknowledge your deliverance in our addictions and trials. Amen
CONTINUED READING:
Romans 7:14-8:2, Galatians 5:16-25
WORSHIP: