20 Days With the Lord’s Prayer Day 17: Power belongs to God.

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬

Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to deliver him from some sort of thorn in the flesh. Instead of the Lord addressing his complaint, He assured Paul that His strength, His power would be shown through Paul, would be shown through Paul’s weakness!

“but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Jesus made clear to Paul that the power of the believer comes from the unlimited power of God.

Indeed, it’s not about our own strength and power. It is about the Lord’s strength and power. If we remain vitally connected to Him, we will have the strength to do whatever we need to do. But—if we try to go it alone—we will not succeed.

“Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Paul, in addressing the church at Ephesus, was encouraging them by reminding them of the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul also wanted the people to understand that the Lord wants to show His power through the church.

Make no mistake, no matter how weak we may feel, no matter how powerless we may think we are, for those who believe in the Lord and look to Him for strength, there is always a vast supply of His power at our disposal.

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For today we consider the portion of the Lord’s prayer that says, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power.” Last time we discussed the fact that the Lord’s Kingdom is greater than all kingdoms. As such, He has the right to rule over all. Today we look at the fact that—as the psalmist put it—all power belongs to the Lord.

“God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A crucial part of our relationship with the Lord is understanding that He has unlimited power that He is willing to share with, and use for the benefit of, His children.

Indeed, the Lord’s Prayer instructs that we include the recognition that all power belongs to Him. And in so doing, we will never have to feel weak or powerless ever again.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!