Power in the Risk

I’ll probably never forget this day. I was just about to walk on stage. I had the manuscript. I had the most beautiful Gospel presentation prepared and then God spoke clearly and said, “Gloria, if you want to see my power, I need you to throw away the script and follow my Spirit.”

My heart began racing. Those are simultaneously the most terrifying, yet the most freeing words I could have heard. Because despite my script, I knew if His Spirit didn’t show up, I would have everything to lose and nothing to gain. If God didn’t show up, I knew I would look like a fool. It was a risk. A high risk. But so was the cross and look at how that turned out.

When you take risky moves in this life that leave you totally dependent and reliant on the Holy Spirit, you’ll notice the pressure to perform with eloquent words suddenly dies as you lean into His Spirit to do what you could never muster up the strength to do. I’ve come to realize as much as I want others to receive salvation, I can’t give it. There are no words I could ever speak that can set anyone free because it’s not about the delivery but all about the Deliverer, and if He doesn’t show up, nobody is getting set free.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any more man-made power in this life. I want the Holy Spirit and the power that He promised. The power that breaks chains and releases strongholds off of people’s lives. I’m tired of playing it safe. I’m tired of a rehearsed faith.

WHILE GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT, SAFETY IS NOT WHERE GOD DWELLS.

I’ve never seen God move in safe predicaments. While God is always present, safety is not where God dwells. He dwells in the risk. He dwells in the things that require a great act of faith on our part. But see what’s so good about this God is that He has a miraculous way of making the space of “risk and faith” feel incredibly safe. All we have to do is obey. I don’t know what the risky step in your life is, but you do. Take it. Don’t delay to obey. God’s promises are found on the other side of your obedience.

I’m starting to realize the enemy will trick us into believing our anointing is enough to sustain us. But hear me when I say this, there’s no amount of anointing God can place on our lives that will make us less dependent on His Spirit. In fact, true anointing will make us more dependent on His Spirit because only His Spirit can sustain what’s been placed within us.

As for me in 2019, here’s to throwing out the scripts and trusting fully in His Spirit. I’ll exchange my “performance” for His power, because powerlessness doesn’t raise people from death to life. So I’ll take the risks. And I hope you do too. Once you see what God can do, you’ll never try to be God again. He’s worth trusting, we are not (Psalm 22:4-5). He can handle the pressure, we cannot (2 Corinthians 3:5).