Dial First, Power Will Follow
Theme of the Week: Required to Reconnect
Thursday, September 25, 2008
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: "Go with the strength you have … I am sending you" (Judges 6:14). Bonus Reading: Judges 6:11b-14, 25-27
Awhile ago, I knew I should reconcile with someone I'd mistreated, but felt too intimidated and embarrassed to do it. It was going to be hard for me to admit fault. I was afraid he might rage at me. I wasn't even sure how I'd bring up the subject without being awkward about it.
So I admitted that I needed God's strength. I affirmed that he's powerful and that he's with me. I knew I was aligned with his will, because the Bible tells me, "Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible" (Romans 12:18). And I prayed, asking God for the courage to follow through.
Instead of feeling electrified with power, I still felt apprehensive and inadequate. Even so, I consciously decided to step out. That meant I had to act by doing what I knew God wanted me to do.
I went over to the phone and forced myself to dial the man's number, knowing that if I walked down the road of obedience, God would give me power as power was needed. And sure enough, as the conversation unfolded that night, God emboldened me and strengthened me through that very difficult talk, and today I'm reconciled with that friend.
—Lee Strobel in God's Outrageous Claims
My Response: A time when I stepped out in obedience and felt God's power was …
Thought to Apply: Reconciliation demands courage … sometimes heroism, an overcoming of oneself rather than of one's adversary. —Pope Paul VI
Adapted from God's Outrageous Claims (Zondervan, 1997, 2005) by permission.
Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
I need Your courage, Lord, to bypass my pride, engage the one with whom I'm on the outs, probe for the root of our misunderstanding, and experience healing.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
