Pull Out the Spiritual Power Tools

By Andrea Merrell

For the word of God is living and powerful, 

and sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,

and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of

the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

I am not very handy when it comes to tools. Using a flathead or Phillips screwdriver is about the extent of my capabilities. I can’t even use a hammer without bending the nail … but I still try.

This seems to concern my husband. He is extremely handy and thinks I should be the same. He even gave me a tool kit recently filled with all sorts of handy devices—in purple. Very girlie. Then he announced his decision to get me an electric drill.  I quickly informed him I would never use it and wouldn’t know how even if I wanted to.

As it turns out, my husband was right ... which he usually is. While attempting to remove several screws from a log wall, he handed me his small, cordless drill and showed me how to use it. Once I got the hang of it, the screws were out before I could blink. It would have taken me five times as long to remove all the screws with a regular screwdriver.

I’ve found this same scenario to be true in my spiritual life. God has given us power tools, but too many times we try to get by without them. When Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His disciples, He said they would receive power—power to share the good news, to lay hands on the sick, and to cast out demons (Matthew 10:11 and Acts 1:8)—power to live the life He had called each of them to live and to do the things He had called them to do.

So how do we utilize this power?

• By praying in the Spirit
• By praying in faith
• By praying the Word
• By praying for others 

When we use the tools/weapons God has provided, they give us the power and ability to:

• Love (as He loves us)
• Give (unselfishly and with a cheerful heart)
• Forgive (as He has forgiven us)
• Serve (doing everything we do as unto Him)
• Bless others (with a pure heart and the motivation to honor God with our time, talent, and possessions)
• Defeat the enemy and come out victorious

If your spiritual life is in need of a boost, dig into the Word, pull out those power tools, and put them to work. Make sure your toolbelt is fully equipped.

(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/stockimages/Gualberto107.)

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