Power and Empowering
March 3, 2021
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours…. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 NIV
Some of us have an amazing drive to powerfully experience life and bring life to others. When these people are operating from their best self, they have a passion to initiate change. They are bold and fearless and inspiring to be around, and often inspire movements of positive change. These are often those who operate from the gut, particularly Eights.
But in a world like ours, crusaders are frequently misunderstood and criticized for being aggressive. They get rejected and undermined, and like all of us, they experience betrayal and loss. Young Eights often build their protective seedcoat from this thought, “I must be very, very strong and even invincible because this world is hostile, and the powerful take advantage of the weak.” The focus of the Eight is on taking charge and not being controlled. They use their forceful energy toward addressing and attacking anything that might threaten their autonomy, influence, and power. They avoid being vulnerable or appearing weak. They are surprised when other people are not comfortable with their intensity and their “justified anger.”
Those of us who know these traits all too well have a great source of hope and help. God’s healing embrace will lead anyone who chooses to innocence and grace. Part of receiving His grace for every single person is realizing that none of us are created for controlling others or being controlled ourselves. When we realize who has the power, we receive a new freedom to be gentle, compassionate, honest, and intimate, and great authentic strength will surface.
It is a tremendous relief to know that the One who truly has the greatness and power is Almighty God. Everything in heaven and earth is His. He doesn’t have to scramble, manipulate, or intimidate for control. He simply HAS it. In His hands are all the strength and power. It’s particularly notable to realize who is acknowledging this: King David, one of the most powerful and remarkable kings in all of human history. But David found the greatest peace and strength in knowing that the strength and power was NOT in his hands. It was in the hands of God.
David found his usability to God in his knowledge of how God used the power in His hands: “to exalt and give strength to all.” When we are our best, authentic selves, we operate in His power and strength, and our goal is to exalt and help everyone, not to control. We recognize that God is the only One capable of controlling life.
- Pray: God, help me realize every moment that I am not here to control, but to cooperate with You.