Every week people pass through my living room and take a turn sitting at my grand piano. I give them my undivided attention for thirty to sixty minutes while they play music by Mozart and Beethoven and Gershwin. I help them make sense of fingering and eighth notes and terms like sforzando.
And I love it. Teaching piano is a joy.
This year I have three very young beginners. One girl who is only five herself comes with her mother and a little two-year old sister. While the older sister is having her piano lesson the little sister sits on the sofa while her mother tries to keep her occupied with storybooks and playing games on an iPad.
A couple of weeks ago the little sister was becoming very frustrated–making so much noise that it distracted my student. The mother explained, “She wants to play the game herself, but it’s hard so she gets frustrated when she can’t do it. But she gets angry when I try to to help.”
I had to laugh. Because this is exactly how I am with God.
I want to do stuff. I want to make a difference. I want to accomplish big things. So I work and work and sometimes it’s hard. I get frustrated because I cant’ do it. But do I go to God for help? Not….always. Instead, I act like a two-year-old and get angry when I can’t do it by myself.
Which is silly because trying to do something in my power without accessing the power of God is a little like trying to grate a pound of carrots by hand when all along I have an amazing food processor in my cupboard.
Ephesians 3:20 says:
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we can imagine through his mighty power. Not through my genius. Not through my strength. Not through my determination.
So what does it look like to accomplish much in His mighty power?
Maybe it means stopping before I work to ask for His help.
Maybe it means admitting I need His assistance.
Maybe it means thanking Him that I don’t have to do it on my own.
Whew. I feel better already.
Next step: What would it look like in your life to work in God’s power instead of your own?Post Ephesians 3:20 where you will see it today.