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GOD IS ABLE//Priscilla Shirer 
Chapter 6-TURBO 
"...according to the power that works within us..."
Reflection By: Patricia Johnson
  Wife of the late Pastor L.B. Johnson
Patricia Johnson

In Chapter six, the author shared the story of a little old lady driving down a long, winding, country road in her Ford Mustang GT going twenty miles an hour in low gear, holding up traffic for miles back. It appeared she had no idea of the power underneath the hood of her car, or maybe she did know, but was fearful of it.  Nevertheless, there was power to be used, but wasn't being used.

 

Comparing that to life and our Christian walk we have times in our lives where we feel powerless and hopeless, forgetting the privilege we have in knowing the power we have through  God the Father. I have found myself in that situation many times in my life where I  forgot to access that power. One of the most devastating times in my life that threw me into low gear; where it seemed impossible to move to the next gear and beyond, making it impossible to grasp the power available to me was when I lost my first husband in a tragic plane crash.

 

On April 27, 1985 that crash took the life of four fine Christian men; one being my husband of twenty-seven years, along with my brother-in-law.  I shall never forget feeling desperate, hopeless, and certainly powerless as the reality of it set in.  I had so many questions about our future.  I prayed, "Why? and told God "I cannot do this as I have my children and my sister and her family to now be responsible for."  Finally, a comforting presence enveloped my being, flowing over me with a peace like I never knew, and a soft tender voice spoke to my spirit saying,  but... "I can,  and I will, if you will only trust me."  I took Him at His word and believed, and He did just as He said.  

 

Just as He promised on that very sad day, God had gone before me and made a way then...and has continually made a way time after time.  "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8.

 

God doesn't need power...He is power!  We can experience that power through Him if we keep our faith and trust in Him. I've learned that when we do not access the power that is available to us as Christians, we may show weakness that could handicap the potential in others, such as our loved ones, who may be watching us.  The more the Spirit's power is activated in your life, the more your capacity to experience God increases.  He is faithful to fill that which you bring ready to receive.

 

I was blessed with a second marriage, whom has also passed on to his heavenly home.  But, before he became ill, he said the Lord told him he would pastor one more church, and much to my surprise... that door opened!  What a challenge, especially for me, because I had no experience in that field of ministry.  His son-in-law, suddenly handed over an independent church.  The people were so disappointed in losing a pastor of nineteen years and with the drastic difference in age and style of ministry between the two men, almost half of the membership left in a matter of a few weeks.  Since the church was independent and had its own corporation, we had to rename the church. My husband feeling somewhat distraught with all this, prayed..."Son of the living God, if you don't rise up and help us, we cannot save this church."  Out of that prayer, he was assured of God's divine help.  As a result of that prayer he named the church "Sonrise" and we were able to bring that body into the Church of God family.  Thirteen years later the church has taken on a new name to "Revolutionary Life" and is still moving forward, winning souls and reaching the community. God is faithful when we put the turbo power of Ephesians 3:20-21 to work!

 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us"  -Ephesian 3:20. 

 

Florida Women's Discipleship / 3736 Cragmont Drive / Tampa, Florida 33619
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