As Much as You Allow

 

 

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

— Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

 

We don’t use God. We don’t use His power. God uses us. God asks us to let Him live through us. When we live for God because we feel an obligation to live for Him, we serve Him out of our own ability instead of His strength. When we allow Him to live through us, we serve Him out of faith in what He has done within us. We know that in our weakness He is strong. Serving Him becomes our privilege, and His power is unhindered. He does abundantly more than we could ask or think through us.

 

Christ has given us an exchanged life. He exchanged our sins for His righteousness. We are new. The old is gone. We have received His righteousness. When we surrender our will, reasoning, and understanding to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide and empower us, Christ, who lives in us, lives through us. We serve Him out of His power at work within us. Serving Him flows out of faith instead of obligation. It becomes a joy because nothing rests on our ability. Everything rests on Hm.

 

Yes, God does abundantly more than we ask or think, but we must never forget the whole verse. He does abundantly more through us when we surrender to His work of righteousness within us. God doesn’t want us burned out from obligation. He wants us fulfilled in His finished work of grace. 

 

Surrendering to God is not your work. It is His work that you choose to allow in you. You must allow Him to work in you. You deny the flesh access, but it is God’s power in you that accomplishes what you have denied. Surrendering is allowing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, gentleness, and patience—to flourish in your life. 

 

Your surrender is not a pick-and-choose surrender. Don’t refuse what the Holy Spirit wants to do in your life. Don’t reject receiving the spiritual gifts that He wishes to bestow on you. Deny any fear. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach and guide and empower you as He never has before. Allow Him to challenge your human reasoning and reveal Himself to you.

 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20, NKJV).

 

God uses as much of you as you allow.

 

© 2023 Lynn Lacher

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