There comes a time where hitting the wall is inevitable for ultra-athletes.
For those that have never experienced the infamous “wall,” it comes in the form of complete and utter depletion of energy to make forward progress.
It is lacking power to proceed.
It is having less and less power.
It is feeling as if there is no energy within you to keep going.
Have you been there?
As an ultra-marathoner, I have experienced this myself.
It came 91 miles into my first 100-mile race at 3:00 am.
As I approached the final aid station, I felt powerless.
My goal was to complete this race without a crew and in under 24 hours.
This was not going to happen today.
Once evening had fallen, my nutritional plan went amiss.
I became tired and forgot to properly refuel.
As I came into the final aid station, I met a giant T-rex named Mike who asked me if he could get me anything.
I begged for broth…cups and cups of broth.
As I sat there, knowing I would not have the power to accomplish my sub-24-hour goal, I began to pray, talking to God about finishing the race.
Any given day, I could have sprinted the remaining nine miles downhill to the finish, but I was totally broken by that point.
I needed the Power of God to propel me to meet my family eagerly waiting for me to finish.
I needed Greater Power – something bigger than what I had to offer!
A quick prayer to our Father in Heaven produced in me a power I did not previously possess.
The words “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord…” came to mind and I began to recite Zechariah 4:6 over and over again.
God gave me the strength to move forward and finish!
So, what would greater POWER in your life look like?
True strength comes from relying on God’s power, not our own.
Scripture tells us that God’s power is far greater than our own.
Isaiah 40:39 states,
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”
Isaiah 40:39
According to 2 Corinthians 12:9, “It is by God’s grace alone that we are made strong. God says,
‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
God wants to demonstrate His power in us in our greatest times of weakness.
Are you going through a trial?
Are you tempted?
Are you in a season of weakness?
Guess what…God cares for you.
He gives us a cure for powerlessness, to help you keep running the race.
We must remain firm and strong in the Lord’s power. Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 6:10 (AMP):
“..be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.”
Ephesians 6:10 (AMP)
Are you trying to rely on your power alone?
Has night fallen and you forgot to take in your nutrition – the Word of God?
Repent and ask God to strengthen you.
God’s love and self-control are evidenced in our lives when we live out 2 Timothy 1:7 which reminds us that
“God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
If you find yourself spiritually walking into a dark aid station, cold, tired, and hungry, look for a Spiritual T-rex like Mike who can give you nourishment and motivate you to finish the race.
We need community and the body of believers to spur us on to love and good deeds.
Let us not grow weary in doing good, but lean into greater power the Holy Spirit gives us.
Greater power for today, greater power for tomorrow.
Greater power in Christ alone.
Reflection
- Read and reflect on Zechariah 4:6. What is the scripture telling us when it says “not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit?”
- During difficult times, do you turn to Christ asking him for the power to persevere? Are you running on your own power? Do you allow God to carry out and finish the work? Why or why not?
- What does it mean when God says “my power is made perfect in weakness”?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, power is a measure of how quickly energy is transferred or transformed to allow us to do work.
Too often, we attempt to rely on our own power, but what little we possess is insufficient to finish anything.
The power you provide us allows us to finish the race you set before us to run.
We turn to you too often in our time of need and desperation when we should be asking for your awesome power, drawing on the strength of your Spirit to help us at all times.
The words shared by the author in this writing encourage believers to look to you continually because greater power comes from you and you alone.
You started a great work in each of us, so please help us to change our ways, teaching us to rely on your Spirit and your power when we feel the most defeated.
Amen.
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