How much power do you need?

I’m a guy. I like tools. One of my biggest pleasures is using those tools to build furniture in my garage. A good Saturday involves pulling out multiple power tools and getting after it.

Maybe you’ve seen the PBS show, The Woodwright’s Shop with Roy Underhill. He builds good stuff and does it all with hand tools. I have difficulty watching the show because I start emitting Tim Allen grunts and hollering at the TV, “YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT YOU COULD DO WITH ELECTRICITY!”

We guys tend to think more power is better, but I’ve learned the value of scaling back to just the amount I need. I have a really good drill press and can drill holes as big as five inches. But, I also have the ability to drill a hole that’s only .013 of an inch (about the width of the thinnest guitar string).

Biblical fatherhood understands the issue is rarely needing more power, but having the power you need.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, the same power that was present at creation is living inside you. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead works in you. This power is a Person: God the Holy Spirit. And we have all the power we need in Him.

Most days, I don’t need to move mountains. I just need power…

To extend the grace and kindness of Christ to my wife when I’m home and tired from work.
To forgive a minor infraction of one of my sons—even as Christ forgave me of major infractions.
And to wait for change that isn’t taking place as quick as I think it should be.

Basically, I need power to be a godly husband and father. I need God’s power—His Holy Spirit—for all these things. We know we cannot save ourselves, but we often forget we cannot live the Christian lives ourselves. We need the Holy Spirit.

Let’s take Paul’s prayer and make it our own.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 1:16-19

This post originally appeared on Lynn’s blog at LynnHPryor.com.

This post comes from Lynn H. Pryor, D. Min. Lynn spends most days developing adult Bible study resources for LifeWay Christian Resources. Lynn serves a Nashville church as pastor and earned his doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, enjoys woodworking, and his favorite projects are when his sons show up to help. He has been married to Mary for 36 years. Learn more about Lynn at LynnHPryor.com.

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