Since the beginning of time, people were created to be powerful. Sadly, especially in this day in age, the term "powerful" has taken on a negative meaning. I believe this is because many people have used their power for evil instead of good. However, power is not a bad thing. Power is a great thing, and we should all strive to be powerful people. When we're not powerful, we're not truly ourselves.
I'm currently studying at the School of Ministry at Bethel Church. There is so much freedom in this place; I don't think I've ever felt this empowered and hopeful before, and I can already tell that simply being a part of it is changing me from the inside out. I've realized that the reason people experience so much freedom and power here is because Bethel highly values free will and choice. We've had choices since the beginning, and I think if God did not want us to be powerful, He would not have given us choices or a voice in any decision - He is God after all, and could easily have made us robots that He controls and manipulates from Heaven. But true love involves choice, and God is True Love.
So what does this mean for us and why is it important? Well, first off, I think knowing we have a choice releases us from a victim mindset. It's true - most people can't do anything about the fact that they are victimized, but what they choose to do after the fact is completely up to them. I personally have spent too much time in the past wallowing over certain relationships, people, pain and hurtful situations. Because of fear and insecurity, I would choose to meditate and dwell on the situation instead of taking steps to change and grow. And no, this process is not easy. It involves forgiveness, discipline of thought life, change and surrender for starters. But realizing that you were always meant to have a voice and make a choice is incredibly liberating and necessary to our advancement and well-being as humans.
I don't know what challenges you're facing right now, but take a moment and think about your response to that situation. Are you acting as a powerful person who has a choice in the matter? I do realize there are some things that you cannot change, no matter how powerful you are. But as far as the things that are in your control, what are you doing to make changes? The quicker we realize that we have choices in a situation, and the quicker we take action (even if it's simply changing our thoughts), the quicker we will begin to move forward and grow as individuals.
Some of us are still contending with situations that happened a year ago, or even five years ago. And maybe we've been dealing with a victim mindset and not taking appropriate measures as the powerful people that we are, and that's OK. But let's make today different. Let's make powerful choices as powerful people. We have been given the incredible gift of free will and choice, and what we do with that will affect how we advance and prosper as humans! :)
