By my spirit...
- David Ayres
- Jan 11
- 2 min read
Zechariah 4:6 –"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts."
What it speaks to me today:
My perception of myself is a slippery thing. Sometimes I see myself clearly, sometimes I don't. When I was a child, I knew the limits of my might and power....I had none. I was physically weaker than the adults around me, lacked their resources, wisdom and knowledge, and I wielded no real authority, except over my stuffed animals. And I was keenly aware of that reality.
As an adult things change: I now am physically stronger than my childhood self, I have resources (not as much as I would like), and I have some authority (I am happy to report my stuffed animals still obey)...but at the same time nothing really changes.
These adult realties sometimes trick me into thinking I have some might, some power. This delusion of myself is being addressed in a way by Zechariah. There is a call to rebuild the temple of God after it had been destroyed. The work has stalled, Israel is disillusioned at the amount of work left, and how far they have fallen from grace. Zechariah is prophesying to a people who are wore out from the effort of trying the work on their own.
The purposes that God has for you and I, he has not given to us to do in our own power, our own might. In fact, the work he has for us is bigger than any might or power we will ever have. That is on purpose. So that we instead partner with the Holy Spirit in the work.
Instead, this verse in Zechariah reminds us that we are to work with the Spirit of God, because He is always working. It is HIS might, HIS power that will accomplish the purposes of God, and we get the blessing of working alongside Him to accomplish what God has given us to do.
What is it speaking to you?
Have you tried doing something under your own power and might? Did it tire you out?
What work has the Lord given you that is bigger than you?
How has it worked when you have worked WITH the Spirit to accomplish what God has asked?
What are we going to do about it?
Pray for the Spirit to show you how to work today, in the next hour. Reflect at the end of the day how it went.
