What Makes You Feel Powerful?

Maybe, it is a favorite pen or portfolio.  Maybe it is a favorite shade of lipstick or nail polish.  And, we cannot leave out the obvious, the ever so famous power suit.  For me, it’s a pair of earrings I recently stumbled across in the really fancy costume jewelry section of Kohl’s.  I was looking for some gold hoops, and I came across this set that have hoops sized to go in all three of the holes I have in my ears.  Included in the set, are some smaller earrings as well.   One pair consists of gold lightning bolts.  I honestly cannot tell you why I am drawn to them so much, because I am petrified of lightning.  Let me tell you it does not matter who I am with, if lightning is coming down from the sky you are eating my dust as I run for cover. I have worn these lighting bolt earrings several days this week.  The small little classy lighting bolt gives me a surge of power and confidence as I go about my day.  It helps to have the extra push to feel that you can conquer that to do list, rise above that challenge, and provide a spark of something of influence into the world.  But do I really need to wear lightning bolts to do this? If you do not have on or in your hand that thing that makes you feel powerful, does it mean you are not?  Does it mean everything is a wash?  Should you just put your jammies back on and go back to bed?  As followers of God, the power of the Holy Spirit is always with us.  We can lean confidently into it, no matter what we are wearing, as we strive to carry out God’s plans for our lives.  As we go through the challenges, the uncertainties, the mundane tasks in the every day, and the blessings, we can go through it all feeling empowered by the Lord.  And here’s the thing about lightning, just as an extra fyi, God’s power is often demonstrated with lightning in the Bible.  Oddly enough, the people respond to it in fear.  See, I’m not crazy!  It is a common reaction.  However, I love how people respond at the completion of Solomon’s temple in 2 Chronicles 7.

“When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

‘For he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.’”

Let us wake up each day feeling empowered. Let us know that the Lord is always with us. Let us be reminded of the goodness of God waiting for us to consume it. Let us be assured that the Lord’s love for us endures forever. As we embrace God’s power all around us each day may we be brave, empowered, confident, and ready to accomplish all that God has for us to do each and every day.  Go ahead and leave that power suit at home.  You don’t need it, unless you really do love the color and fit.  God’s power is with you no matter what you have on.  However, I do still recommend wearing something other than your birthday suit!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).