September 6 - The Power of the Holy Spirit in You!

September 6, 2011 The Power of the Holy Spirit in You! Sharon Jaynes Today's Truth Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" (Acts 1:8 NIV). Friend to Friend "I'm not good enough." Have you ever said or thought those words?  The truth is if you have made Jesus the Lord of your life, then you have the power of the Holy Spirit living in you and working through you. Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" (Acts 1:8).  You have God's incomparably great power at your disposal.  "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..." (Ephesians 1:19-20 ).  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within us?  Yep.  The same power. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth" (don't you just love it when He says that), anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12 ).  Did He just say that?  Yep.  What does going to the Father have to do with the power we receive?  Because once Jesus went to the Father, the Holy Spirit came to live in believers.  "If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth" (John 14:15-16). Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom spent the last years of her life speaking to men and women all around the world about the God who sustained her during her imprisonment and who delivered her from the Nazi prison camps.  During one of her presentations, she held up a lady's white glove. "What can this white glove do?" she asked.  Then she went on to explain...     "The glove can do nothing.  "Oh, but if my hand is in the glove, it can do many things...cook, play the piano, write.  Well, you say that is not the glove but the hand in the glove that does it.  Yes, that is so.  I tell you that we are nothing but gloves.  The hand in the glove is the Holy Spirit of God.  Can the glove do something if it is very near the hand?  No!  The glove must be filled with the hand to do the work.  That is exactly the same for us:  We must be filled with the Holy Spirit to do the work God has for us to do." It is time to see yourself as God sees you. No more living in a house of mirrors looking at a distorted image of who you are.  This is how God sees you. You are a child of God. John 1:12 You are justified- completely forgiven. Romans 5:1 You are free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 You have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 You have been made righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3 You are righteous and holy.  Ephesians 4:24 You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins. Colossians 1:14 You are a dwelling place for Christ. He lives in you. Colossians 1:27 You are complete in Christ. Colossians 2:10 You are chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. Colossians 3:12 You have been given a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 You have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which you are a partaker of God's divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4 And that, my friend is only the beginning!  Say these verses out loud.  Speak to your soul.  Believe the truth about who you are.  You are more than good enough because of who lives in you and works through you. Let's Pray Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live in me, to work through me, and give power to me. I pray that I will plug into the power source every day. Forgive me when I act like a powerless spiritual invalid rather than a spirit-empowered soldier. Regardless of what my feelings tell me today, I choose to believe that I am a dearly loved, chosen, holy child of God who is enveloped by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen. Now It's Your Turn I've given you a lot to think about today.  Go back up to the verses listed in today's devotion and put a check by the ones that you have a difficult time believing for yourself.  Now, choose to believe the truth, regardless of how you feel.  When you choose the truth, you will be renewing your mind!   Check out Romans 12:2 to learn what happens when we renew our minds with the truth. If you will stand with me and start believing the truth about who you are, then give a shout out at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes.  Simply enter, I'm believing I am who God says I am! More from the Girlfriends Today's devotion was taken from Sharon's book, "I'm Not Good Enough"...and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. If you would like to learn more about how to overcome the lies of the past, visit her website.  While you're there, check out the laminated prayer card with Scripture verses about Who You Are in Christ.  This inexpensive book tucker will help you remember to see yourself as God sees you. Seeking God? Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Girlfriends in God P.O. Box 725 Matthews, NC 28106 info@girlfriendsingod.com www.girlfriendsingod.com