Q & A Archives
These are Questions & Answers posed by ordinary people looking for guidance. Dr. Judy Baus has thoughtfully answered each person and feels that these responses just might help someone else in their time of need.
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08/15/2008 06:56 PM
Dear Judy,
Last week I saw a program on TV about the "power of intention" and was intrigued with this concept. I didn't hear any mention of God, so maybe it's dangerous ground. I've heard people say, "We are what we think." "Our words have power." "Believe it, Speak it, Receive it!" and so on. I have lots of good intentions every day, but I can't find the oomph to actually do them. There's a disconnect and I'm left feeling like I'm living just a mediocre life. This doesn't even resemble the "abundant life" Jesus came to give believers.
--Disconnected
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Dear Disconnected,
First stop thinking you are disconnected and start knowing Who you are connected to and why. Webster defines power to be position of authority, and intention to be what one purposes to accomplish or do. Combine these two definitions and you get a powerful biblical concept that we as Christians can and need to apply to our lives. Because we are connected to Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, we have that position of authority over those purposes we are to accomplish.
Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." It sounds like the thief is stealing from you and taking your authority over the oomph as you say. What is this abundant life that Jesus is talking about? It means overflowing or having more than enough. This is a promise from Jesus Himself to all who follow Him.
It is your job to recognize which part of John 10:10 you are living in. Are you experiencing the kill, steal, and destroy part or are you living in the overflowing life of Jesus Christ? It is a must to get out of the "good intentions" and into the "God intentions." When you know your intentions are what God wants, then you need to claim the power to accomplish that purpose. What you quoted from the Bible about speaking, believing, and receiving is true, but God’s purposes are accomplished through your DOING them.
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are connected whether you FEEL like it or not. To get above those negative feelings, you must live in Romans 12:2: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
God's good, acceptable, and perfect or complete will is found in the Bible. It is our mind that causes us to feel a certain way or not to feel a certain way so when you read the Word of God, it will bring your thinking into line with what God says. Then you can speak and do what He says and not allow the thief to have any place in your life.
When things get overwhelming for you and you have things you need to accomplish, take your authority over it and speak out what Paul says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."