The Power of God

As believers we are not powerless. Often I hear things like: ” There is nothing I can do about this situation, this person, this circumstance”. That is often true. But what I have come to understand is that our circumstances, though trying at times, do not need to define us and do not need to render us powerless. While preparing for a conference a few weeks ago I was examining the word” circumstance” and thought: ” If we take the circum out of circumstance we would only have the word stance.” That intrigued me. Circum indicating a circle or going round and round. Sounds like the Israelites who wandered for years in the wilderness. A journey that could have taken 11 days took them 40. Were they wandering around in circles? And didn’t that cause them not to enter the Promised Land until they were through wandering in circles. Now think about that with me……

Circumstances

The trying circumstances in our lives can potentially cause us to go around and around in circles like a hampster wheel. For me it works like this. Something negative happens and my mind begins to trigger off. I think of ways to solve the problem, or ways to handle it. I might go round and round for days planning and thinking about what to do. I often feel powerless as I negotiate the paths I could take. What begins in my mind might progress to my emotions and fear, anger, frustration may start growing like a cancer spreading ultimately into my actions. Before I know it I am attempting to do things that were never ordained by God and cause me to go round and round on a hampster wheel.

Another Scenario

How about let’s change this picture together. A challenging circumstance presents itself. What if we stopped right then and prayed about it asking the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom? What if we determine to take the circum out of circumstance and instead decide to simply take our stance with God? Yes let God give us His wisdom and then we stand in trusting Him. This would keep our thought life from traveling to China and should keep our emotions balanced and our actions God ordained.

What If?

Living the spirit-filled life requires that we not live under our circumstances but above them. Only then can we take our stance with God in charge. I would much rather simply stand with God then go round and round in circles. What about you?