Yes You Do Have Power To Change
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. Ephesians 3:20 [AMPC emphasis added]
How would you act differently if you knew beyond any shadow of doubt that you DO have power inside you to change?
As a Christian, we have God’s power residing inside us. But we don’t access it because we don’t know we have it nor how to put it to use.
God will not override our decisions, Therefore, it’s up to us to gain the knowledge about this power and then learn how to apply it to our situation. Let’s look at three major keys to accessing this power.
Believe – Get Rid of Your Excuses
We are taught that we don’t have power over our lives, circumstances, nor our future. But we do. The sooner we begin to believe this, the sooner we can do what’s necessary to transform our situations.
This belief of having power to change contradicts what society is teaching addicts, alcoholics, people with mental illness, people struggling with health issues or finances—that they are powerless to change.
Jesus said at Matthew 19:26: With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God. Now it’s up to us to change our belief. And Jesus will help us: I believe, help me with my unbelief (Mark 9:24).
To help solidify our new belief, we have to look at the excuses we use which contain an element of unbelief:
- I am an addict … a person with mental illness … the doctors say I have this ailment … I can’t rise above my financial situation, etc.
- It is so-and-so’s fault that I am the way I am and I can’t change.
- It’s impossible for me to change, I’ve failed so many times!
What are your excuses? Make a list of them in order to identify the lies. Then find Scriptures that contradict those lies and write those down. From this day forward we must take 100% responsibility for the outcomes in our lives.
Speak Forth Your Change
Proverbs 18:21 states: Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Many Scriptures teach that what we think and say have power that creates outcomes in our lives. (Do a Google search for Bible verses about speaking.) Even more powerful is to speak forth God’s Word as it contains a promise:
So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).
Once you have identified your excuses and looked up God’s promises and Scriptures that counter them, now you have something to look to when you begin to falter in your thinking.
After you deal with the excuses and your faulty beliefs about who you are and your past, now it is time to speak forth your future. This is powerful. Remember, you have God’s power inside you and this is one of the main ways to access it.
So, what are your dreams for your future? What are your hopes and dreams? These are pictures of what you want to do, not what you “don’t want to do (your current situation).”
Write out some statements about the future you want and locate Scriptures to help you in your journey to get there.
A personal example is my verse for Victorious Achievers and all the big visions I have for it which are supported by the verse for this ministry, especially the financial support needed:
And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation] 2 Corinthians 9:8.
When doubt and discouragement start to come, I recite this verse from memory—to remind myself of God’s promise and faithfulness to fulfill what He has called me to do.
Do you have a main verse to support the vision for your life that God has called you to fulfill? Have you memorized it so it’s available at your moment of doubt?
Take Physical Actions
I see a lot of people say they don’t have any power to change, but I rarely see someone do the physical things required if they knew they did have the power.
“I can’t stop my addiction.” Physically stop going to your dealer, stop making calls to set up a score, stop verbalizing your inadequacies, etc. Now, determine what physical actions you will do instead: preferably something to help you draw closer to obtaining your goals for an awesome future.
“I can’t do that because I have a mental illness.” Stop using the label of “mentally ill.” I talk to people every week who are so focused on their inability to do something because of this label that has been put on them. What are some physical actions you can take to go toward a goal you thought was impossible because of your identity of a mentally ill person? Write them down.
“I will never increase my financial income.” If you knew (believed) that your financial circumstances could be changed, what would you do? Financial income can be improved by following systems that work and are successful for others. It’s not always a personal, internal blockage that stops us. If it worked to others, it CAN work for me too! Just do it! The power shows up when you take the action (instead of only planning and learning).
Leave a reply below on one or two actions you will take as a result of reading this article.