Power is in God's Word

Several weeks ago, when Matt Unruh was teaching on a Sunday morning while Bill was away, he challenged Gracepointers by asking, “Do you covet God’s power in your life/ministry?” In my spirit, I answered an unequivocal, “Yes!” and I prayed for His power. I was confident that God would answer my prayer, I just had no idea the logistics of how God was going to answer.

Following that Sunday, as the weeks and days went by, God affirmed in me that His power is found in the Bible. Actually, I felt God say to me, as clear as having an audible conversation, “My power is found in my Word.” So, now I know where to get it, but where do I find the time? Like most people, our schedules are so full that even though I have the desire, I just don’t know how to devote extra time into something without something else having to give.

At the end of May, the Women’s Ministry team went away to Sun Peaks (courtesy of Dianne Finn for the use of her condo) for a planning weekend. First thing on Saturday morning, we had an amazing time of prayer where each woman present was prayed for and God opened up the heavens and released a specific word for each woman. Then, after lunch, each woman was silent before God, asking him what he desired that we participate in, and what our involvement in each event/program will be.

During the listening prayer, God asked me to lay everything down for the next ministry year and spend my time in his Word. “Even Fusion?” I countered, “We have good momentum right now, it’s not a good time to take a break.” God said to me, “You are not the catalyst,” and he gave me a verse, Psalm 37:25, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread [of life].” While, it is incredibly difficult to lay down all Women’s Ministry for this year, I am confident that the Lord is even more concerned about the spiritual welfare of the women and I do not need to be anxious for anything; they will continue to be fed.

I am excited about the time I will have to devote myself like Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” I want to not only know the Word better, but I want to know God more. A few weeks ago, my husband (who is not a believer) asked me, “Why do you always study the Bible? Shouldn’t you know it all by now?” I appreciate his confidence in my understanding, but I replied to him, “It’s a relationship. I don’t study the Bible just to gain knowledge, but to know God more. It’s like my relationship with you. We’ve been married for 13 years, after all this time, I know a lot about you. Should we go our separate ways now? Of course not, because as we are in a relationship and I am still learning things about you. In the same sense, I want to know God more, too.”

So friends, I am taking a hiatus from leading and working in Women’s Ministry so that my roots will grow deep. I am not an annual in God’s garden, but a perennial, intended to bloom again and again. I am abandoned to the Creator, to receive his power. I’m excited about the next year and spending time with God in his Word, but it is not without regret for leaving some of the things I love behind for a year.