Day 362: Zechariah 4-6; Revelation 18

"Then he said to me, 'This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.'" (Zechariah 4:6, NLT)

Some translations render 'Yahweh Sabaoth' as 'LORD Almighty.' It is a fitting translation. Here, it cannot be lost on us that 'the LORD Almighty' reminds us that our own strength, power, might, force, prowess (all words used in translating this verse), are no match for the task before us. As Martin Luther wrote: "Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing" (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God). God has made a way for us to be victorious. He has given us His Holy Spirit. Again, it cannot be lost on us that our Lord, Jesus Christ promised us power in the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Just a reminder that this is not a burst of power, though that can't be ruled out, but primarily an ongoing well-spring of power within us. As we see this old year wane, let us renew our commitment and will to live in the total surrender to God's presence in us through His Holy Spirit that makes us overwhelmingly victorious.