“We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.”
– Colossians 1:28-29 NIV
This scripture shows us the source of our energy when we are doing God’s will. It’s not our own energy, but His energy, “which so powerfully works in me.” Glory to God!
Earlier in this chapter Paul prays that we would be “strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. (v. 11)”. Truly there is a strength and energy that we need to tap into that cannot be obtained through human effort. It comes from God Himself and if we are going to be effective in ministering the gospel then we need it. We need it to preach, to pray, to work miracles, to stand up under the pressures and persecutions. Working in our own power simply won’t due. Only His power will keep us.
So how to we get that energy? Too many christians have no energy, are weak, and get burnt-out easily. Paul shows us that one way is to pray for it. The other answer that goes with prayer is found in Isaiah 40:29-31
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
I love that scripture.
So what’s the answer? How to we get this power and strength? We do it by ‘waiting on the Lord.’
What does that mean? Well I like to think of it as a gas station. When you go to the gas station you park your car and wait until it’s filled up. That’s the same thing we need to do. We need to get into God’s presence, park ourselves, and stay there until we are filled with God’s strength and power. Too many Christians are like cars that don’t stay at the gas station long enough to get much in their tank, and then they wonder why they don’t get very far. The reasons that christians don’t stay in God’s presence long enough is because their minds are so distracted by the world that they can’t focus and they get bored. They do their quick religious duties and back they are to ‘their’ life. And they wonder why they don’t have any power.
So how long do you need to be in God’s presence? Just stay there until you are full. Sometimes that may take a long time, sometimes it might not. Make times where your time with God is open-ended. That is, times when you don’t have anything planned that day so you could hang with God as long as you need to. Every Christian needs this. And don’t be religious. Just spend time talking with God. Spend time thanking Him and worshipping Him, and meditating on His Word. If you do this you will find that you have energy to spare and a vigor and fire about life that those around you lack.
Hal Chaffee 