AN UPHILL BATTLE

February 28, 2006

How do you respond when you feel like you can't on?

THINK ABOUT IT

Over the hill

Athletes ski up the hill in the men's cross country skiing 50km mass start final in Pragelato Plan, Italy.
(Clive Mason/Getty Images)

photo courtesy getty images & foxsports.com, 02/26/06

TAKE A LOOK

Ephesians 1:18-21 - (NLT)

¹⁸I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. ¹⁹I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power ²⁰that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. ²¹Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come.

WHAT IS GOD'S RESOURCE FOR FACING THE FUTURE WITH THE UPHILL CHALLENGE OF LIVING YOUR LIFE IN A WAY THAT HONORS HIM?

During the last two weeks, we saw some amazing demonstrations of strength and power at the Olympic Games in Italy. One example that caught my attention was watching the cross country skiers go uphill. Talk about athletes who are in shape! Talk about a display of power!

The Christian life is a long-distance marathon, full of many ups and downs. Often, we find ourselves struggling at the bottom and you know what comes next - an uphill challenge that makes us question our ability to go on!

That's what today's teaching from Paul is all about. It is not about our ability to suck it up and keep going. The key to winning those uphill battles is realizing that we can't do it and that we must rely on God's resource for us - His resurrection power!

Paul says that we must "understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead..."

Christ went up that hill to die on a cross for us. God's resurrection power raised Jesus from the dead! His resurrection power is the power that is available to help us live each day! Are you relying on it?

TALK ABOUT IT

Thank God for His mighty power which raised Jesus from the dead! Praise Him for making it available to you every day, every hour, every minute, every second. Tell God right now that you need His Spirit to give you the faith you need to start each day by relying on His resurrection power to live each day. Talk to the Father right now about your most difficult uphill battle. It might be a relationship, a temptation, a health need, a question about your future. Claim Christ's resurrection power over it and thank God for His victory in His time.

TRY IT

Memorize Ephesians 1:19-20 as a reminder to live in God's power.
Each day this next week, look for an opportunity to physically go uphill. It might be a run or walk outside, or the steps in your school, home, or office building. As you climb, let Jesus remind you that He alone can provide you with the power you need for life's uphill battles.
Encourage a friend or family member by sharing what you learned in today's Daily Devo.

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.