According to The Power That Works In You

It was only recently that I realised the interpretation of Scripture is very subjective. To one, a passage might bring healing; to another, it might represent power; to the next, it may reveal freedom. But one thing is certain: Scripture functions in our lives according to the understanding we have of it.

Only recently, I was conversing with a friend, and the book of Philippians 4:19 came to mind: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” This conversation was in relation to marriage. He was of the opinion that there is not one person assigned by God for an individual. He stated, and rightly so, that we have many options, but we decide what we want by the leading of God’s Spirit. That is absolutely correct. I believe every word of that to be true. However, it does not negate the reality that there is another level of dimension and power with God, one which the Apostle Paul refers to in Ephesians 3:1a: “That is why I, Paul, am a prisoner who belongs to Jesus Christ.” This level of power is called death, an absolute surrender to the point of death.

The Apostle Paul was, in essence, saying, “I do not have a free will, because I am a prisoner to Christ.” In the Old Testament, I found another man who allowed himself to die in this way: the Prophet Hosea. There was no “God, show me what You want, then I will choose it over other options.” There was no other option apart from the Lord’s will. Men of power do not get to “choose” God’s choice; they understand that there is only one choice, and that is God’s.

Shall I then say that I am of the school of thought that there is one person for you and that God knows them? Yes. I also understand that this person can decline. However, that is not an invitation to begin searching for someone else who will say yes. Rather, it is an invitation to press deeper into God and ask for direction. The fact that Pharaoh declined Moses’ request several times did not mean that God had not spoken; it simply meant that God was proving a point. While this example is focused on marriage, understand that this principle applies across every aspect of life. God can direct you to a place where He knows you will be rejected. It is not your place to then seek another door; you return to God. Sometimes it is because God wants your attention. Other times, it is because God wants the attention of the other person, or He wants to show them, when they finally stand at the gates of heaven, how many times He tried to save them before judgment.

I do not think we fully understand that the prophecies written in Scripture will be fulfilled by humans. Yes, even you who are reading this. It is up to you to determine which prophecy you will fulfil: the one that brings God pleasure, or the latter.

Not to stray too far from our original point, the phrase “according to the power that works in you” simply refers to the strength of your belief in the Scriptures and in what God can do. If the power that works in you believes that God has created one person on this earth for you, and that at His appointed time He will direct you to that person, then walk in the boldness of that power. This belief system will cause you to see every rejection along the way as a mistake that God has saved you from. It will also lead you, when you find yourself in relationships that do not end in marriage, to lift your hands in gratitude and absolute surrender for the lessons God is teaching you along the way.

After all, the Scripture says that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. One of the signs of the called is rejection. The process that leads to being chosen by God requires much breaking. This is why it is important to make God your only option. Otherwise, every rejection will push you to find your own path. But if each rejection redirects you back to your only source, time and time again, because He is not one of many options but the only option, you begin to die a daily death. Your heart becomes malleable, and God observes your pattern. The Holy Spirit then has room to advocate for you before God, saying, “This one will always return, no matter what.” What greater power is there than the Holy Spirit vouching for you, placing His integrity on the line?

My friends, the next time you think of power, think of it as the ability to stand on God’s Word as absolute, the ability to see God as the only option, and the ability to grow so deeply in your walk that the Holy Spirit can vouch for you. “According to the power that works in you” goes beyond prayer; it is a combination of everything that reveals God’s beauty through the life of a man. It is, in essence, looking at a man and seeing God. For that to happen, you must die and submit your will, becoming His willing prisoner.