Three ways to plug into God’s power
In this blog, I offer three ways for mothers and daughters to plug into God’s amazing grace and mighty power that far exceeds girl power. Be sure to review the lies about the girl power movement with your daughter.
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
I remember when my daughter first saw this verse. She thought she could defy gravity! Imagine the possibilities! She could win first place in her cross-country meet. Ace her math test. “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me!” she exclaimed. But no matter how hard she tried, she didn’t get first place and that math test was harder than she expected. She felt exhausted and defeated.
What is the source of your strength? Better asked … Who is the source of your strength? Girl power or God’s power?
Girl power is driven by results and must be earned. The promise is conditional. If you work hard enough and win, you get credit. If you work hard and fail. You feel like a failure. The burden is always on you to perform. It’s no wonder girls suffer from depression and anxiety more than at any time in history. Girl power is fake power.
But God’s power is unconditional, never-ending and a free gift from Jesus. This Bible verse, penned by the apostle Paul, promises Christ-followers the power of Jesus in all circumstances. Christ’s strength will empower you in any situation, in good times and in bad. If you win, he celebrates with you. If you lose, God strengthens you with his comfort and peace. God’s power is real power.
A girl can do anything not because of who she is or how hard she tries. A girl can do anything because of whose she is and His name is Jesus!
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
In the spirit of “Lies Girls Believe” (shout out to Dannah Gresh at True Girl 😍) I’d like to expose the lies of the girl power movement and offer three ways to plug into God’s power.
You and your daughter can read each of these contrasting statements and give examples of the difference between girl power and God’s power in your life.
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Girl power is self-centered vs. God’s power is others-focused.
Girl power seeks to do whatever makes you happy. It’s self-centered and self-seeking, but God says his power will compel you to love Him and love others first.
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39
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Girl power demands “it’s my body, it’s my choice” vs. God’s power declares you to be “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
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Girl power puts men and boys down to gain power vs. God’s power created men and women equally for each other.
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18
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Girl power is fueled by emotions vs. God’s power is fueled by truth.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
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Girl power requires work vs. God’s power is a free gift.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Can you think of other examples?
Plug into God’s power.
The girl power movement instructs girls to look on the inside for power. I’m not sure about you, but when I go digging for power inside of myself, I wind up exhausted and empty. My power source is a moving target depending on my mood and emotions.
God’s power is an external source. It comes from the outside.
Here are three ways to plug into God’s power!
Have you ever used an electrical appliance such as a toaster or hairdryer? Do you wonder where the power comes from? What happens if it’s not plugged into a power source?
If you want to shine for God, you must plug into his power. Your light does not come from the inside out. Instead, it comes from the outside, in. To power an appliance, plug it into an outlet. To get God’s power, plug yourself into his outlets called the “means of grace.” The means of grace are the outlets God guarantees from his word to deliver faith, the forgiveness of sins and the power to shine. Here are three outlets to receive God’s power so you can shine bright.
#1. God’s Word.
The Bible is God’s primary outlet. His Word unfolds the grand narrative of salvation through Jesus. Simply listen or read the Bible and receive the promise of faith.
“So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:7
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
You might not understand what you are reading (yet!) but keep hearing the word of Christ. Trust God to give you this unending gift of faith when you listen to His word. His light will begin to shine in you!
#2. Baptism
The Bible is filled with water! Well, not literally, but from Genesis through Revelation almost every reference to water points to baptism and its power to forgive sins, rescue from death and the devil, and give salvation to all who believe. Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). When the water and the Word are splashed, poured or immersed on you, you can shine bright and proclaim, “I am baptized into Christ,” and be certain that the comforting words of Romans 8:1 are true:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
#3. Communion
One of my pastors likes to say, “If the water seals it, then the food feeds it.” The sacred meal referred in several ways such as Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper, is an outlet to receive God’s power to shine. When we eat and drink his body and blood under the bread and wine, we receive the forgiveness of sins and a bright boost of faith power.
Martin Luther said, “this is a profound wonder and unexplainable mystery.”
Stay plugged into Jesus and receive God’s unending power! Look at you! God’s power is your strength!
The Bible offers spiritual disciplines too!
Prayer, fasting, worship, service in your community, and honoring the Sabbath Day are just a few that came to mind.
These spiritual disciplines are not meant to be legalistic activities. We do not do things to earn God’s love. We practice these disciplines because we already have the fullness of God’s love through his son Jesus. Spiritual disciplines are given to us directly by God. God promises to meet you in these activities to bless and comfort you.
So plugin and receive God’s unending power! You can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you!
Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up.
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Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh.
