You have Resurrection Power!

 

God wants you to know the exceeding power of the Resurrection.

In the Good News Translation of Ephesians 1:19-20 we read,

“and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.”

You see, when you believe in the resurrected Christ, the exceeding greatness of God’s power that raised Him from death is the same power that is at work in you.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ reminds us that nothing is too difficult for God (see Jeremiah 32:17), all things are possible with Him (see Matthew 19:26). Praise God!

Resurrection power is by far the greatest manifestation and demonstration of the absolute strength of Almighty God.

Resurrection power can penetrate the locked door (see John 20:19) of your heart to effect your inner transformation, enabling you to be more than a conqueror (see Romans 8:35-37).

Resurrection power reveals the afterlife, that is, the new life in our resurrected Christ after the old life of the flesh is discarded.

“Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 GNT)

In knowing Jesus Christ, you experience the power of His resurrection.

“All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of His resurrection…” (Philippians 3:10 GNT)

Beloved, look at Ephesians 1:19-20 again and see that you have within your born-again spirit the very same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead. You have resurrection power!

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “You have Resurrection Power!” ©2013 (26-Feb-2013) revisited September 29, 2026

What A Gift!

 

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away (ref Job 1:21ESV)

Job uttered these words in anguish, but the truth is, what the Lord gives He does not take back, “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). In other words, God does not withdraw His gifts; when the Lord gives it’s irreversible, can’t be cancelled, it’s beyond recall, firm, fixed and final.

However, if we view Job’s lament from a different angle it could be seen as a good thing, in that, the Lord gives us Life, a new Life, one that is real and full of His Truth, and He takes away all our guilt and self-criticism and self-judgment, our selfishness, our inner turmoil, our low self-esteem, our negativity, our control and dependence on self, and really so much more.

He strips us of who we think we are, lays us bare, naked and exposed; He takes away all our self-imposed limitations; He crucifies us, the old us, and makes us new – a new birth, a re-birth.

Beloved, the Lord gives you Life, a new life in Him. He transforms you into who He originally created you to be – a person of Love; a person who lives, in this world but is not of this world – what a gift! Praise God!

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “What A Gift!” ©2009 [16-Dec-2009] (22-Feb-16) revisited September 28, 2026

The Power of Christ in You

 

Petit Piton St. Lucia

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

The power of Christ in you is the presence of His Holy Spirit on the inside of you. The Holy Spirit empowers you to do all that God has called you to do; the Holy Spirit empowers you to face all that this life presents.

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! – Psalm 68:35 (NLT)

Don’t look at life as burdensome, instead be grateful that your weakness allows God to manifest His power in you.

God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you – Psalm 62:11 (NLT)

Keep ever present in your mind that it is not by your human effort that all you need to do will be accomplished but it is all done only by the power of Christ in you; you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (ref. Philippians 4:13).

Beloved, you can do so much more through the power of Christ in you – the Holy Spirit – than you can ever do on your own. It is very important that you understand this.

At those times of weakness, when you feel powerless, cling to this Truth: “The Lord is my strength” (ref. Psalm 28:7)

When you are weak, the Lord is strong! He is your strength! Remember His power!

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless – Isaiah 40:29 (NLT)

The Lord’s power is in you – He strengthens you with power through his Spirit in your inner being (see Ephesians 3:16).

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NLT)

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT)

Now, “Rise up, O Lord, in all your power!” (Psalm 21:13 NLT)

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Power of Christ in You” ©2013 (9-Jul-13) revisited September 27, 2026

Inadequacy

 

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

(Philippians 4:13 NLT)

Remember, as a Christian, you are never alone. Jesus Christ is the One who gives you His strength, you and Jesus are a majority, so there is no reason for you to feel inadequate. Allow Jesus to empower you today; just pray,

Lord, I thank You that in the midst of my limitations and frailty Your strength and power are perfected. 

I thank You for the sufficiency of Your grace which empowers me in times of weakness. 

Strengthen me in every area of my life. 

Now to You in Whom all things are possible, be all honour and glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray.

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Inadequacy” © 2012 (18-Dec-12) revisited September 26, 2026

How can I swim upside down?

How can I swim upside down? I can't. I may try but I cannot swim upside down. Just ask my poor goldfish.

I believe that some of us are like this upside-down fish. We've accepted Jesus as our Saviour but are still attempting to live as the world lives and we find ourselves struggling to survive; labouring to breathe in an atmosphere to which we no longer belong and in which we can no longer "swim".

When you've reached that point of being upside down in the "tank", then it's time to get out of the tank; you're no longer the fish, you're the fisherman!

Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a different kind of fishermen…immediately left their nets and followed him. – Matthew 4:19, 20 (ERV)

Amen †

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelley Johnson “How can I swim upside down?” ©2012 (25-Sept-2012) revisited September 25, 2026

Hiding your story

 

Every person on this earth has a story. Our lives relate our story. Your story, even though it is your own personal tale, is not meant to be hidden. Stories are for telling.

What has God done in your life? How has Jesus rescued you?

Your story has tremendous potential to expand the Kingdom of God but you’re hiding your story.

“I will sing the wondrous story Of the Christ Who died for me. How He left His home in glory For the cross of Calvary.”

God has given you this new life through Jesus Christ and that story must be told, after all, your story is a unique life message that He has given to you.

Time is short and people are dying to hear the story you have to tell, they’re dying to hear of the victory that Jesus has given to you over sin and death. Won’t you tell your story?

“I was lost, but Jesus found me, Found the sheep that went astray, Threw His loving arms around me, Drew me back into His way.”

Yes, it’s true that your story may contain some things that you’d prefer to remain hidden, especially those things you never want to remember or speak about, but people need to hear.

People need to know of how wonderful it is to be in relationship with Jesus. Sharing your story with others gives glory to God.

“I was bruised, but Jesus healed me, Faint was I from many a fall, Sight was gone, and fears possessed me, But He freed me from them all.”

When you tell your story, as difficult as it may be, Jesus will bring to you and to others, through you, great healing, and renewal.

Jesus made your life new, and He wants to do the same for someone else too, if you’d only stop hiding your story.

Beloved, people are longing for a new life and if you continue hiding your story, it never gets told and you rob them of the greatest gift – a relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Won’t you tell your story?

“Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story Of the Christ Who died for me, Sing it with the saints in glory, Gathered by the crystal sea.”

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Hiding your story” © 2016 (20-Oct-2016) revisited September 24, 2026

Hymn: “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story” – words by Francis H. Pritchard (1886) & Ira Sankey (1887)

Your Unemployed God

God wants you in a position or a place where you need Him – that position where you recognize, without a doubt, that without Him you will never get through. That state of being where you finally come to the realization that with God all things are possible and the only thing you can repeat over and over again to yourself is:

“This is impossible for me, but not for God”

The truth is, God allows you to get to that place so that you will let Him “do” in your life. He longs for you to employ Him in every area, even the smallest of things. God yearns to be a part of your life, but you have to let Him in. Employ your God!

Stop trying to work everything out on your own, instead, seek the hand of God. Apostle Paul assures us in Romans 8 that it is God who works all things together for good for those who love Him, for those whom He has called according to His purpose. That’s you – you love God and are here for a purpose, His purpose; even if it doesn’t seem like it.

Listen, contrary to popular belief, God does not want you bursting your brain figuring out this and that, putting mismatched pieces of your life together like a crazy 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, in an effort to devise solutions to your problems. Only God can do that, and with ease.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:31-33, not to worry or be anxious about anything. He says that God knows your needs. He says to be concerned with God, His Kingdom, and what He requires of you, and God will provide you with everything else.

Employ God, utterly depend upon Him for your every need, whatever the need. David understood this completely, he said, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 (AMPC)

Beloved, if you have truly and sincerely accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, then you belong to God; He is your God and His Word says that those who belong to Him, He will sustain:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” – Psalm 55:22 (HCSB)

Take God at His word – do not have Him as your unemployed God. Reach out to Him every single day, whether things are bad or good. He is waiting for your call.

 Amen †

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Your Unemployed God” © 2017 (January 27, 2017) revisited September 23, 2026