Our Paradox of Powerlessness

Taken from the devotionals I wrote back in 2021, for a church in Oregon. 

Edited for the sake of all who suffer from emotional suicide and thoughts of grandeur without the Power of Jesus Christ. 

 

*Even though we may have fears about the lack of strength or power in our lives, it makes no sense to say that we are powerless.  We have had the power to stay in our rut, a grave with the ends knocked out of it.  We have had the power to remember, and remember, and remember more about the pains of life.  We vomit up things that we say is under the Blood of Jesus in our “so- called” Christianity. Vomit does not mix well with the Blood of Jesus.  Toxic. 

 Just a thought: if all we “were” (before our Born-again experience in Jesus), is under the Blood of the sacrificial Lamb Jesus the Christ, the anointed One from God the Father, then why do we allow our memories of things that are forgotten by God, to be such a stronghold?  Yes, stronghold.  The memory banks in our brain should be left there.  In our brain.  Not our hearts.  Our hearts can be vulnerable.  I do not want to be vulnerable without a God purpose.  My heart, like your heart, cannot take much more pain from a memory that somehow infected my heart through thinking too much about things that are under the Blood of the Lamb. 

Why do we do this?  Good question. 

We say we have the power or do not have the power.  Let’s look at this. 

The power from God to create the Sun, Moon, and Stars came from God.  On the fourth day of Creation. 

But, when we accept Christ as Savior, the Power of the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer.  Yes, the Holy Spirit gives Christian’s power to live as witnesses to Christ and to do God’s Will.  This happens through faith and obedience. 

Still, why do we vomit or spew out these memories?  Each of us has a memory.  It is designed to reflect, not live there.  Like Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” 

(Not to camp out in the valley for a lifetime).

 Walk, not stay.  (Stole that line from a former Senior Pastor). 

This paradox conflicts with the Power of the Holy Spirit.  Paradox defined: “A statement or situation that seems to contradict itself or go against common sense.”

We are in many ways deceiving ourselves, without the enemy of our soul, Satan, doing any work to disrupt, destroy, steal, and kill our dreams. 

The Apostle Paul tells us, “This precious treasure, this light and power that now shines within us.” 

We are weak, cracked vessels at times in this life.  No sense allowing memories to rule us, so much so, that we break what is left of our own earthen vessels. 

We need the master Potter, Jesus, to put us back on the wheel of grace and love and reshape our lives.  He goes on to say, that everyone can see the power in us and that it is from God because our bodies (containers, tents) are perishing. 

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. 

2nd Corinthians 4:7-8. 

The picture here contrasts a precious treasure and the simple container in which the treasure is stored.  The living power poured into our life from above is the treasure. 

Namely the Holy Spirit of God Almighty. 

Our human body, with all its flaws and weaknesses, is the perishable container or vessel.  We are imperfect human beings. 

Once we recognize this paradox of powerlessness, we can be quite relieved.  Added to this relief factor is a thing called deliverance and peace that comes in the morning, from the Morning Star Jesus. 

We do not always have to be strong or pretend to be perfect. 

We can’t.  We shouldn’t. 

We must not strive for perfection.  Strive to be obedient first. 

Put down your personal sledgehammer and quit trying to pulverize your heart with the memories of your past.  It is killing your dream. 

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me the Strength (Power).”

Philippians 4:13. 

This spiritual war rages against the flesh and the spirit; it is real.  Don’t kid yourself. 

Remember that your thought life is real too.  It needs to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. 

Galatians 5:1: *Stand fast therefore in the liberty and freedom by which Christ has made us fee, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

(IN OUR MINDS AND MEMORIES).

Of course, we must make the decision with our minds and hearts not to get caught up with our addiction or bondages, especially living in our past memories that hurt us.  Yes, they are real. 

But if they are under the Blood of the Lamb, they are forgotten as far as the East is from the West and remembered no more by God. 

It is not your fault you were what you were and thought the way you thought.  You are a new creation in Christ.  He will renew your mind and cleanse your memories to the point you do not forget.  You will remember, but without the pain and torment. 

Maybe we should put our pasts under the Blood of Jesus.  Maybe then, we will quit being haunted by our personal nightmares that keep us bound and in despair. 

Easier said than done.  It takes the Power of the Holy Spirit to bring change. 

Any change. 

Many times, the struggles are amplified by who we spend time with.  They, whoever they are, will and can feed into our pain, with their “wanting to help desire.”  Innocent as that is, it can be self-destructing. 

We can, and should, guard our hearts by allowing people (even ones who have good intentions) to speak into our lives.  If they are not anointed by God, then they are just people with good thoughts, experiences and knowledge.  This is good and can help us through tough times.  But we still need the Power without the paradoxes. 

It is imperative through this freedom process, that we make a serious commitment to Jesus Christ to help us get past, our past. 

He wants all of you, even your broken pieces of life that still exist. 

Unless you want to stay in a war with no ammunition to shoot, keep doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results. 

Definition of Insanity. 

I did not say you are insane.  You only become insane when you quit fighting the good fight of Faith. 

There are enough paradoxes in life to go around.  Let us not create new ones by ignoring the truth.  Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you how to do what you need to do to be sane again and whole.  Free indeed. John 8:36. 

We either are, or we are not free. 

Process of elimination.  Let God take the blinders off so you can see clearly what you need to see.  It is your time. 

Today is the acceptable time.

Seeing is believing. 

Be careful what you believe and who you believe in. 

Copyright © 2025 by Joe Wilkins