Glorious Inner Strength – The Invitation
The following is an excerpt from one of my November Holy Yoga Class Devotions. I was asked by one of my students to share it, so here it is! Glorious Inner Strength-The Invitation
“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19, The Message
When we are weak, in the middle of a trial, our first response is usually to try harder. To try to figure things out. But, if we are honest, it doesn’t take much to see we are usually in over our heads. This is the perfect space to ask God, to invite Him to strengthen us by His Spirit. To give us “glorious inner strength.” Christ living truly inside of us.
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. (Isaiah 40:29)
One of the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s Love is that He gives us strength freely. It isn’t so much about changing our circumstance, but it is more about giving us what we need to endure.
Exploring is our option. We are invited to experience breadth, test length, and plumb the depths. We are invited to discover how far the boundaries go. I believe this is an invitation into Wonder. An invitation to discover the complete splendor, even in the most challenging times.
To gaze out, with squinting eyes, unprepared for brightness, majesty, and grandeur, because of the darkness that surrounds, because of the pain that can so easily engulf, and ask for WONDER. The WONDER that keeps us in awe, no longer needing answers but fully content to experience the BEAUTY of His Gaze. The FIRE in His Eyes that burns with passion for His bride.
We are implored into fullness. Full lives. Full in the Fullness of God. A life of Wonder. A life of Majesty. A life of Extravagant Love that goes beyond human understanding. We are invited into this without regard to our circumstance. This is the very same invitation that extended to the refugee. To the prisoner. It has nothing to do with material wealth, or community status.
It is only found in Jesus.
