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Thankful: the same One.

The day before yesterday, I told my best friend that it just felt like my willpower was shot.
For someone like me who tends to place a lot of self-worth on what they can do, that will leave you feeling pretty bad.

But last night, I decided to sit down and read the Bible because I knew I needed to.
It wasn't what I felt like doing.  But I knew I needed to (it didn't make much sense to feel bad about myself over past few days but then go watch Netflix instead of reading the Bible.)
So I read Ephesians 2.  Then I went on into reading Ephesians 3.  Verse 7 caught my eye.
"Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power."
And all the sudden, the part about the working of his power stole my attention, because I realized the depth of it.
Because I knew I felt powerless and the fact that His power is at work in me changes everything.

Romans 8:11
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
If that's real, (and it is), and that Spirit that lives in me raised Jesus from the dead (and He did), it's certainly enough to be my willpower and do anything else as well.

Know that this Spirit of God is given to you by God and is your only means.
That's what trusting God looks like.  That's what having hope looks like.  That's what having faith looks like.  That's what will enable you to love correctly.
It gives you confidence but keeps you humble all at once: You have the the Holy Spirit in you; but that  Holy Spirit is from Him and not of you.

This next Sunday is the anniversary of the day when Christ was raised from the dead.
This is a new dimension of His resurrection for me to be thankful for!
Not so much a reminder, more of a witness.
This power at work in us through the Holy Spirit is real.  It raised Christ from the dead.  He lives (and is working) in me. 
Thank you Jesus.  Thank you Holy Spirit!

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