Trying  To  Make  Things  Happen 

At this year’s Super Chevy Show, I purchased some drag racing videos which showed racing from back in the 1960’s.  Most are from the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park.  In the one from 1964, they show how a fellow in C/dragster pushed his race car, all by himself, the entire quarter mile when it wouldn’t re-start after quitting during the burn out.  It took him 218 seconds, which has to be some kind of record!  It didn’t give his name, only his car number (139) and that it weighed in between 1500 and 1800 pounds.  This was somewhat comical, but it did show how determined he was to make in down the quarter mile.  The car was all there but there was no power.

This reminded me of a church I visited in the past.  The pastor preached a great message; at least I thought it was as it really spoke to my heart.  When he was finished he gave an alter call and we sang “Just As I Am.”  When no one responded, we sang the song all the way through again (it has at least 5 verses.)  This went on until we had sung the song all the way through at least 5 times.  By then, I was about ready to go forward just so we could stop singing.  The only thing missing was the power of God to get people to respond.  He was trying to push the service through on his own power.

I think we are all guilty of this; just in different ways.  When things don’t happen the way we want, we often try to make them happen.  We are pushing through on our own power—just like pushing a dragster down the strip with no power.  We might think we are doing God’s will, but it’s only our own will and God is in the stands watching us while having a good laugh.

How do we get the power to do things for the Lord?  Well, we need to be sure that it’s of the Lord in the first place.  That comes from a lot of prayer and soul searching, making certain it’s not something that we just want, or desire, but that God wants and desires it through us.  Trust me on this! I have been there and pushed a lot further than only a couple of miles or days—try years some time. 

Next, remember what it says in Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  The power comes from the Holy Spirit so that you might be a witness in your life to others so they can respond to God and, in turn, become witnesses themselves.

This applies to everything that we do in life; even racing.  When you do everything for God, even your work, no matter what it is, as long as you give him Glory, He will use it…and you.  There will be more satisfaction in all that you do.  But most of all, the power will be there.  After all, it’s all about the Power isn’t it?  So give it back to God where it belongs, and see what He will do in your life.  Watch how things happen, you will be surprised.

Dan Laterza