By Pastor Doug Cox

Even though this year’s celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is now behind us there are still many lessons to learn. One of those lessons is about how to access the power and strength of God. Every experienced Christian knows that living for the Lord is impossible to do in their own strength but only through God’s. Thankfully the ministry of Jesus gives insight how to do that.

Don’t think it was inconsequential that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the solitude of the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. In that solitude He learned how to both draw close to the Father and resist the temptations of the devil. Jesus’ priority of being close to the Father gave Him what He needed to repel every demonic attack He faced.

Throughout Jesus ministry Jesus went apart to pray. At times He chose prayer with the Father over being with people and it’s not that people weren’t important to Him, but so He could know how to minister to the needs of the people He had to spend time with the Father. It was there and only there that the Father could show Him what to do. He spent time alone with the Father before He walked on water, before He called His disciples and before He fed the 5,000 plus including other times as well. The point is, Jesus never tried to operate in His own strength.

He was always seeking the face of the Father especially before He went to the cross. Just before His prayer in Gethsemane He prayed a prayer for Himself, the believers with Him and all believers who would follow. The prayer is found in John 17. Verse one is so profound. It says He “…lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.” And glorify Him He did through all He suffered before as well as on the cross and to His last breath and words “Father into Your hands I commit My spirit”.

The lesson we learn is that Jesus found the strength He needed to fulfill God’s will by separating Himself to the Father. The same is available to us. Let’s follow Jesus’ example. He says “…If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” (John 8:19) By reading the word we know that Jesus got out of the noise of life. For us that noise is caused by people and devices and at times it is caused by doubts and fears within. We need to learn how to separate away from both and draw near to God just like Jesus did.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (NKJV) Our prayer can be, “Lord teach me to learn to be still.”

Isaiah 30:15 says “For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel. In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength….” This verse was written to Israel while they were in the middle of rebellion. Change was only going to come one way, by drawing near to the Lord. Sadly, the end of the verse says, “…but they would not.” It’s not that they couldn’t return to the Lord and set themselves apart to Him, it’s that they wouldn’t.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (NKJV) Our prayer can be – Lord teach me to be still so I can know You better. Help me learn to quiet myself and be still and focus on You. Help me stop and shut down every runaway thought so I might access the spiritual strength that only You can give. Intimacy with You is where the strength is.