Paul the apostle wrote these words which were part of his prayer for the Ephesians:
‘I pray that out of his glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being …’ (Ephesians 3:16)
Some time ago, I was faced with time after time of unanswered prayer and felt I was about to slip into intense discouragement. Somehow I managed to utter some words in a feeble prayer, “Lord help me so I don't become discouraged”. Well, that night, the Holy Spirit met with me in a powerful way and over the next few days answered my prayer miraculously!
In the past year and a half, many of us have gone through emotional roller coasters. People have faced job uncertainty, disappointments, inner fears, isolation, bereavement, discouragement, anxieties, sorrow... the list goes on. It has been a difficult time for many.
It is our inner being on which these emotions often take their toll. Sometimes we may not even know why they are there but they are real and the resulting effect in our lives and relationships can bring about real strain and challenges.
This is a time when we need the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the release of His abundant resources of grace to help us in our time of need. We were never meant to struggle and try and do it on our own but to depend on Him and look to Him for His strength. Psalm 105:4 says, “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”
Sometimes we may need someone to come alongside us to help us come to the place where we can open our hearts and receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If that’s you, do ask a mature believer to stand with you.
As we ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in our inner being, He comes with His power and ever so gently ministers to us. He pours grace upon grace on us, as much as we need and even more. Let’s reach out to Him and receive His peace where there is turmoil or frustration inside, power where we feel weak, hope where there is little or none, joy where there is sorrow, the wisdom we need, and much more.
When we receive His grace in our inner being, this will bring about outer strength in our lives.
Inner grace, Outer Strength
Mary Asagba