His Glory, Our Story - Part 1: All For His Glory

Scripture: 
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”–Ephesians 1:17-20 NIV

Observation: 
This past Sunday, Pastor Julius launched us into a new series: His Glory, Our Story. Chapter one of Ephesians reminds us who we are because of Christ, what God has already given us through Him, and the power available to us as we grow in knowing Him. Paul starts by reminding believers that we are chosen, adopted, redeemed, inherited, and covered with the power of the Holy Spirit. He then goes on to pray for believers to have wisdom and revelation. Paul’s prayer emphasizes spiritual insight so that we may comprehend and take hold of what we already have in Christ.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us! 
Have you ever needed to remind yourself of this truth? Remind yourself of who you are: a child of God? That we inherit that SAME power through a relationship with God? There are times I know I need to remind myself of this. It’s often in moments where a situation can feel overwhelming and impossible to overcome. Have you ever thought to yourself, “I can’t do this!” Maybe it’s battling depression. I’ve been there. Crawling out of that pit can feel exhausting. Even the smallest step in the right direction can feel like a landslide, falling right back to where you started, over and over again. 
Maybe it’s overcoming addiction, healing from grief, or experiencing health issues. Whatever it may be, doubt can act as a thief for what God has intended for us. In these situations, we may become so focused on what we can’t do rather than what God can do. By truly understanding who we are in Christ, it changes the way we view ourselves.
He changes everything. 

Application:
I think with my own battle of depression, I have, sometimes, felt like it’s up to me to handle it. I’ve often tried to operate within my own strength and ability, which doesn’t work. But maybe that’s the whole point—to come to the end ourselves and realize that we can’t do it on our own. So, in the moments when we feel we can’t do it, we aren’t necessarily wrong. Because we can’t. Apart from God, we can do nothing, but with Him and through Him, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). As true believers, we must let go; we must come to the end of ourselves and let God's ability work through us. He is more than able. I’ve learned to shift my perspective from a position of feeling defeat, to a faith posture of “I believe God is powerful and will equip me with the tools I need to overcome this!” 
Pastor Julius often encourages us to pray the scriptures over ourselves. Recognizing where you may be relying on your own strength while facing difficult times is not easy, but it is necessary. Ask God to grant you insight and begin to see your struggle through His perspective. What does He want to do in me through this? When facing a daunting situation, remind yourself that you serve a God who raised Christ from the dead. That same everlasting power can overcome any challenge! Remember who God is and what He’s already established.
Walk faithfully, while trusting His power!

Prayer:
Father God, thank You for the reminder that we don’t have to walk through life relying on our own abilities. Thank You for the confirmation of who we are through You. Enlighten the eyes of my heart so that I may see my circumstances from Your perspective, rather than my own understanding. May I move in confidence knowing You have power in my situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!