My Source & Resource

Scriptures: John 1:1, James 1:5, Ephesians 1:3-5

PROVISION…

John 1:1a “In the beginning, the word already existed.” 

There is something incredibly comforting about knowing that an established provision already exists. The word already exists! 

I recently found myself going through a space where it felt like I was carrying a huge weight of responsibility around the pressure to produce resources to help people manage their emotional and spiritual well-being. I realised I had slipped into the mindset that it was ‘my responsibility’ to develop new, inspiring, and life-giving resources. This weight even impacted my ability to breathe freely. This led me to sit in God’s word, and I found myself landing in John chapter one and chewing on the phrase – ‘the Word already exists.’ 

God reminded me that everything I need already exists in Him, so ‘breathe’’ because there is no pressure. 

• Every creative idea already exists. 
• Every resource needed already exists. 
• Every solution required already exists. 
• Everything I need already exists in Christ. 

Before any problem even happened, an established provision existed! How is that for mind-blowing!!! 

That means you and I can exhale knowing that our Creator has got it all under control. Our response is to lean into him. 

James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom and that He will give this generously to those who ask. Yet too often, we foolishly slip into the lane of doing it all in our strength. We then find ourselves only asking when we are at the end of ourselves and battling to breathe. (Yes, I am talking to myself.) 

Ephesians 1:3-5 reveals that even before we sinned and the earth’s foundations were laid, God had an established plan – a solution for our redemptive outcome. Therefore, my current encouragement is to breathe in this truth and breathe out your tensioned worries. Breathe in and trust that God has everything in his grasp, and breathe out fear that we are alone. 

Just breathe. There is no pressure in Him! 

Reflective Questions:

Consider one thing God wants you to let go of worrying over today. 

Prayer: 

Lord, help me exhale and trust in your established provision that you have already planned for everything. Help me grasp that you had it all figured out even before I was knit together in my mother’s womb. Help me remember that you are before, behind, and beside me. Thank you that you are my source and resource.

Scriptures: John 1:1, Galatians 2:20-21, Matthew 28:18, Philippians 2:10

POSITIONAL AUTHORITY…

John 1:1b “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

God is a God of order. Positional Authority Establishes Order. 

Even God’s plan for a family system begins with a man and a woman meeting, falling in love, marrying, and then having children. Therefore, positional authority is already in place when a child comes into the picture. This gives that child the best launching pad and security for their personal development. 

Having it any other way can potentially lead to chaos, anxiety, and disorder. 

Imagine if people entered education systems or business establishments where no one was in positional authority. It would be chaos. Additionally, it would create huge anxiety levels as no one would know the boundaries around acceptable behaviour. I believe this is why anxiety levels are so high today. When there is no final authority, it generates fear. 

I generally feel secure driving on the highway, knowing there is an understanding of what speed limits are accepted and which side of the road I am expected to be driving on. Imagine your levels of fear and anxiety if driving in thick mist, knowing there was no overall established authority governing the road safety space. 

However, pride is the tension holding us back from trusting in this space. We have inherited the knowledge of good and evil through Adam and Eve, which gave us a false impression of being ‘like god.’ We have to, therefore, constantly remove ourselves from that positional authority, remove ourselves from the throne of our lives and intentionally choose to position Jesus back onto that throne. It is much less stressful when we do, but we are often too stubborn to admit it. 

Just breathe; He is Sovereign. 

Reflective Questions:

1. What fears are triggered in you when discussing the concept of surrender? 
2. What do you find hardest about letting go and trusting God? 

Pray: 

Lord, help me trust your positional authority; show me daily what it means to die to myself and live in a posture of surrender to you. Please help me understand what it means to trust you as a good Father. Thank you that you are my source and resource.

Scriptures: John 1:2-3, Psalms 139:16, Jeremiah 29:11

PARTNERSHIP IN CREATIVITY

John 1:2-3 “He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” 

I led a counselling ministry at a local church in South Africa for twelve years. I had on my team two incredible women, Di and Corinne. They were both external creative processes, like me. At the end of every leadership meeting together, I remember always commenting on how excited we were at the creative ideas that came out of that meeting. 

I imagine it is exactly like that between the Godhead but on a different level of excitement. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were all present when you and I were knit together, when we were dreamed of and when He wrote out the plans He had for us. This is another mind-blowing moment. 

The ripple revelation is that we, too, can lean into that creative partnership with God. “Nothing was created except through him,” our creative ability is because of Him. We were created in His image – which is one of a creator. So, therefore, my encouragement is to invite Him into everything you do. 

• Every problem needs a solution – invite Him in. 
• Every weight needing to be carried – invite Him in. 
• Every pressure causing stress – invite Him in. 
• Every resource needing to be developed – invite Him in.

Every step of your life can be done in partnership with Him because he wrote every plan about you in his book before you were born. This is why walking with Him will always lead to the most productive outcome because He knows best how you operate. 

Just breathe. You don’t have to do this alone. 

Reflective Question:

1. Do you find working in a team hard, and if so, why? 
2. How can you lean more into partnering with our Creator in all you do? 

Pray:

Lord, thank you that I don’t have to do life alone. Thank that you are a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Thank you that you are my source and resource.

Scriptures: John 1:4, John 7:37-39, Philippians 4:13

POWER SOURCE

John 1:4 “The Word gave life to everything that was created.”

The Word gives life!

All life finds its source in Jesus. All life becomes a resource through Jesus. Do I even need to write anymore?

The day God showed me all that I am sharing with you from John 1:1-5 I was in a pretty low space. I spent three hours with Him reading these five verses, and it felt like a power download from heaven.

Despite a body that felt weary, I could feel my Spirit coming alive with revelation as my source (Jesus) deposited truth into my Spirit. When we live through our source, we become a resource.

John 7:37-39 speaks about being conduits of the Holy Spirit to others. Our proximity to Jesus deepens our Authority in Him. Everything done through Christ is empowered by Christ and for Christ’s glory. He is our strength and source.

If you want anything you create to be a life-giving resource, do it in partnership with Jesus.

Just breathe. He is my power source.

Reflective Questions:

1. What has been your source up until now?
2. What makes it hard for you to surrender to Jesus?

Pray:

Lord, help me surrender all I do to you. I pray for a deepening revelation of your power and how I can do nothing apart from you. Thank you for being my source, as I desire to be a resource used by you and for you.

Scriptures: John 1:5, Ephesians 3:20, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

PROVEN POWER PURPOSE

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” 

There is something deeply satisfying about a proven truth. Science revels in proven theory as it is undeniable. The light and power of Jesus are undeniable in the lives of everyone who calls themselves a Christ follower. This is our testimony. I may not be able to prove scientifically many things, but my personal experience of Jesus, who has brought light into dark spaces in my life, is undeniable. It is what fuels me to wake up every day and live purposefully. The more I understand the empowering source of Jesus in my life, the more I live resourcefully for Him. This generates proven purpose. I don’t need to convince myself of my purpose anymore because Jesus has proven to me again and again and again that his power is made perfect in my surrendered weak self. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reminds us of this revelation. For years I feared that my faults, weakness, and inabilities would inhibit me from being used by God. Then a friend reminded me one day that God even used a donkey for his purposes. So, I decided to blindly trust that if He could use a donkey, He could use me. I have learnt that miracles happen when you make yourself available as a resource in His hands. 

Eph 3:20 “Now unto him, that is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask of imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” 

Just breathe. He is the power source behind my purpose. 

Reflective Questions: 

• Do you struggle to believe in the power of God? 
• What is your biggest fear of what might happen if you let go of control? 

Pray:

Lord, thank you that it’s not up to me. Thank you for being unchanging and dependable; today, I choose to trust You. Thank you that you can take any situation I find myself in and working it out for my good. Thank you that you are my source and resource.