Learning to Receive God’s Gifts

Powerful Authority

Late one evening, shortly after our son was a year old, I
had to go to the drugstore to pick up prescription medicine for his
cough. I rushed in, made the purchase and left just as they were
turning out the lights.

The parking lot was now empty and dim, and I felt nervous
walking to my car alone. About a third of the way there, I saw a man on
a bicycle move from the shadows at the side of the building.

Jesus, help me! God protect me! I prayed silently as I
continued walking. Just as I was approaching the car, the figure jumped
off the bicycle and grabbed me from behind.

In that instant, I whirled around and said with a power
and authority that I have not been able to duplicate since, “Don’t
touch me or, in the name of Jesus, you’re a dead man!”

My assailant was a young man, but large and strong enough
to overpower me. I turned to him so fast I was able to see his
expression change from aggressive to stunned. My eyes met his dead-on,
and nothing in me backed down.

“Someone is watching us, and He will never let you get
away with touching me,” I said as I quickly unlocked the door and
opened it without breaking eye contact. The young man stood motionless
as I got in the car, started the engine and pulled away.

“Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!” I said as I drove
home. Needless to say, I never tested God by going into dark parking
lots alone after that, but I believe His power manifested at that
moment as a gift.

You can’t conjure up, take or demand God’s power; you can only receive it from Him.

If you feel powerless and weak in the face of your
circumstances, then thank God that He says, “My power is made perfect
in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9, NIV).

Our power comes from the Holy Spirit working in us (see
Acts 1:8). To deny Him a place in your heart is to limit the power of
God in your life.

The devil will always challenge the authority that you
have been given over your world. Don’t allow yourself to be tormented
when life seems to be falling apart. Let God enable you to rise above
the limits of your life.

God’s Gift of Rest

My friend Mary Anne said to me one day, “There is unrest
in your spirit, Stormie. I see it surface occasionally.” Though she had
been right about me often, I was not convinced.

Later that week, Mary Anne phoned to tell me she felt God
had revealed to her that my unrest was because of unforgiveness toward
my father.

When I asked the Lord if there was any truth to what she
said, a tidal wave of pain, rage and hidden unforgiveness toward my
father poured forth. I confessed that sin before God, and tears flooded
out, cleansing every part of my being.

Hidden unforgiveness had kept me from trusting all male
authority figures, including God. I felt I needed to take care of
things myself. It was a subtle, subconscious thing that manifested in
me not as rebellion, but as unrest.

After this time of deliverance I entered into a place of
deep rest such as I had never known before. It was a place that God had
provided for me, but because of my own hidden sin I had not been able
to receive it.

Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, NKJV). When we choose to
rest in God, He reveals all that stands in our way.

The Bible teaches that invariably these three things will disturb our rest:

• Sin. It separates us from all God has for us, including
His rest. We worry, we doubt, we have bitterness and unforgiveness, and
we don’t always observe times of rest.

• Rebellion. We are rebellious if we refuse to fast when
God calls us to fast, if we refuse to give when God tells us to give,
if we refuse to exercise when God speaks to us about the care of our
bodies, if we refuse to forgive others and if we keep going when He
tells us it’s time to rest.

• Anxiety. We are pressed in on all sides by trouble and
fear, and we feel that the only way to find rest is to escape. But God
commands us to pray and deliberately take time to rest in Him.

God’s gift is that we should have one full day of rest
each week and not lose anything by doing so. This means rest for the
soul as well as rest for the body—a day away from concerns, problems,
deadlines or obligations. Ask Him to remove anything that stands in the
way of the rest He has for you.

Our heavenly Father gives us His love, grace, power and
rest, but often we don’t possess all He has for us because we don’t
realize the gifts are there for us. We must be prompted, like my
daughter Amanda, to open up the box and take possession of our
inheritance.

Stormie Omartian is the best-selling author of six books, including Stormie, The Power of a Praying Parent and The Power of a Praying Wife. She and her husband, Michael, have two children, Christopher and Amanda. Adapted from Finding Peace for Your Heart by Stormie Omartian, copyright 1998. Published by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.