The Force Is Real

Editor’s note: I’m an unabashed fan-girl of Sarah Jakes Roberts. The woman can preach. In her recent book Power Moves, we learn that “when we do the work of embracing where we are, we create space for God's love to meet us in our most raw form and then polish us to shine like never before. Power does not lie in success, achievement, or performance. Power rests in humility, honesty, and the commitment to continuous growth.” Amen! Now, she has released Staying Power, an empowering guided teaching journal you can use to engage with the key themes and messages from Power Moves. It also includes insightful questions and journaling prompts. Enjoy this excerpt and pick up your copies today!

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Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. — Colossians 3:2-4

The moment you begin to walk in truth and wisdom, it feels like all kinds of distractions are in your way.

You’re not going crazy; the force is real.

In the moments you begin to feel the resistance and strain from this real opposition, you have an opportunity to enact another force, one that is rooted in a heightened spiritual awareness.

Prayer and worship are the gateways to that awareness and are the most powerful tools we have against the dark forces hoping to stunt our growth.

Prayer and worship are how we exercise our authority over evil before we even begin to determine what practical steps we may need to take.

Most of us struggle because we don’t always know when we should be leaning into the presence of God or creating a practical strategy for our resources. I believe this happens because we are used to figuring things out by ourselves. There comes a point when the tools we once used are no longer able to produce the most optimal outcome. 

Instead of becoming frustrated by our lack of ability to achieve our desired results, we have to go back to the drawing board to make sure God is blessing the method we’ve chosen to overcome resistance. I know you’re wondering, How do I do this? The answer is one you’re not going to want to hear. Here it is anyway: do nothing.

In what ways are you actively overexerting your knowledge, experience, strength, and passion to procure a particular outcome? Where have you strained yourself trying to build yourself or others?

Resisting the temptation to be the captain of your own ship, or the captain of someone else’s, will require focus, dedication, and trust in God above all.

From the place of rest, you may recognize where you got off center.

What are some of the distractions in your life that might be agents of your opposition meant to detract from your power and render you unable to focus on your mission?

When you set out to accomplish tasks throughout the day, take note of the moments you are distracted from the finish line. Focus on what forces are within your ability to control. Don’t judge yourself; this is just an opportunity for inventory. Write them down here. It’s possible the same thing may distract you more than once in a day. That’s okay. This is a safe space.

Overpower Your Enemy

• When temptation gets real, don’t pretend it has no power. Instead introduce what has more power.

What are some of the very real temptations you’re facing right now? For example, connecting with a person you know isn’t healthy, making a purchase your budget doesn’t support, gossiping, or responding in anger to someone who has offended you.

Don’t just battle temptation in your head. Use your words to push temptation back. Even declaring with a whisper when you can’t say it with a yell is enough to serve notice to hell.

Your mind may start to betray you and make you believe you do not have the ability to move in power on earth. You may have a history of defeat that has become a weapon against your destiny, but God can use the words that come out of your mouth to push your enemy back.

Now construct declarations to speak to the temptations you just listed. Here are a couple of examples to get you started: “I no longer want to be someone who finds pleasure in tearing someone down.” “I will not allow you to lure me into betraying my peace by acting out of anger. 

When you can’t put your enemy in its place, the least you can do is refuse to allow your enemy to pull you out of your position. The enemy lures you from focusing on your transformation by tempting you with opportunities that will detract you from development. Those opportunities could be small and seemingly inconsequential, but small compromises become big when you begin to yield.

Eliminate access to one of the things that stunts your development for a set amount of time. It could be as simple as taking a few days away from a toxic book or favorite food. The goal is to break your rhythm long enough for you to see how much more productive and focused you can become.

Instead of focusing on the absence of that thing in your world, fill that space with a moment of prayer and connection with God.

Journal your experience. What did you do, and how did it feel?

The old, powerless version of you has died. You’re in the awkward stage of figuring out who you are without pretending to be who you aren’t. In those moments remember that when you model a life that looks like Jesus’, you’ll discover the most powerful version of you.

Excerpted with permission from Staying Power by Sarah Jakes Roberts, copyright Sarah Jakes Roberts. 

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Your Turn

You don’t have to be extremely strong to stand against evil. When we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)! It’s up to you to humbly work with God to figure out who you are so He can use your life to the very fullest! ~ Devotionals Daily