by Lori Hatcher
This week, I’d like to invite author Lori Hatcher to share thoughts on Ephesians from her book, A Word For Your Day. In this delightful devotional book, Lori has chosen one thematic word from each book of the Bible and expounds on that theme. Today’s word is Power.
“Power,” from A Word For Your Day by Lori Hatcher
By the time he was seventeen years old, my husband, David, was an alcoholic and a drug user.
In the years that followed his parents’ divorce, he bounced from one parent to the other, one home to the other, and one state to the other. A chubby kid with a soft spot for the underdog, he struggled to fit in.
When adolescence coincided with yet another move, his desire to find a place to belong, to have someone—anyone—like him moved him to desperation.
The brainy kids didn’t welcome him. He didn’t click with the athletes either. But the alcohol and drug crowd greeted him with open, needle-pierced arms. United by a desire to share the next beer, the next joint, the next high, the teens offered friendship and camaraderie, sucking David into an ever-deepening spiral of addiction.
As he and his friends experimented with new drug combinations, always chasing a higher high, the results became more and more frightening. One night, after downing a particularly dangerous combination of pills and alcohol, David saw and felt things he’d never experienced before. Terrifying images of demons and frightening glimpses of otherworldly figures caused him to wonder if he would die that night. If he did, he knew he’d go straight to hell.
“God, help me!” he cried. “I can’t quit.” He lost consciousness and didn’t awaken until morning.
God’s Powerful Answer
The next day, with his terrifying experience only a memory, he and four friends sat on a brick wall in their neighborhood planning their next high. A tiny woman with a huge smile approached them.
“Hey guys, I’m selling World Book encyclopedias. Do you know where any families with kids live?” They pointed to a house down the road, and she walked away.
Then she turned back.
“I feel led of the Lord to speak to you guys.
“Six months ago my husband and I were using drugs and alcohol. Our marriage was falling apart. He was packing his bags to leave when someone knocked on the door. This man from the church shared with us how Christ had changed his life. He said Jesus could do the same for us.
“When we prayed to receive Christ as our Savior,” she said, “God began to change us. He took away our desire for drugs and alcohol. Now I drink as much as I want to—but I don’t want to.”
When Jolene said the words, “God began to change us,” memories from the night before flashed across David’s mind. “God,” he’d cried, “I want to change, but I can’t do it by myself.” He realized the God of the universe had heard and answered his prayer.
With Jolene guiding him, he prayed to surrender his life to Christ. “I’m sorry for the things I’ve done,” he said. “I don’t want to live like this anymore. I believe you died and rose again to pay for my sins. Change me and make me a new person.”
God’s Continuing Power
Over time, as God filled him with a desire to find joy in his relationship with Christ, David found strength to refuse the drugs and alcohol. His mentor shared the essence of Ephesians 1:19–20 with him. “The same power that raised Christ from the dead will give you the power to say no to false comforts and destructive behavior.”
David filled his mind and heart with God’s Word and began to walk in the transformational power God supplied. Every day he surrendered himself to God, confessing, repenting, and receiving the forgiveness God freely offered. His desire for drugs and alcohol lessened and a desire to live in ways that reflected his new allegiance to God grew.
Ephesians 3:20–21 describes the miraculous transformation that took place:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”
No longer a slave to alcohol, drugs, or fear, David has spent the last forty years growing and becoming more like Christ. He attended a Christian college, surrendered his life to the ministry, and now pastors a church. Ever mindful of how close he came to dying and spending eternity separated from God, he tells everyone who will listen the good news: The same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead can break the stranglehold of your addiction if you’ll surrender your life to Him.
God’s power is available to you too.
If you or someone you love is drowning in their sin and feels powerless to change, remember this: Within ourselves, we are hopeless.
With God, we have resurrection power.
This post is an excerpt from the book, A Word for Your Day, 66 Devotions to Refresh Your Mind, by Lori Hatcher, published by Our Daily Bread Publishing and used with permission.
“For the word of God is alive and active. . . . It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12 NIV
Allow God’s Word to change your life, one word at a time! This 66-day devotional highlights one relevant, sometimes unexpected, word from each book of the Bible. Lori Hatcher, the best-selling author of Refresh Your Faith and Refresh Your Prayers, shares simple—but never simplistic—truths. She continues to remind us that every part of Scripture is active, alive, and applicable.
From the Back Cover of A Word For Your Day
From Beginning in Genesis to New in Revelation, ponder each significant word as you move through your day and allow God to transform your heart and mind.
How you can order a copy of A Word For Your Day:
Meet Lori Hatcher:
Lori Hatcher is an author, speaker, and career healthcare professional who uses high-impact stories to bring about spiritual transformation. The author of five devotionals with Our Daily Bread Publishing, she lives delightfully close to her four perfect grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina. Connect with her at www.LoriHatcher.com.
Hear Lori’s heart on her video here:
Thank you, Karen, for sharing A Word for Your Day with your sweet readers!