Today's Verse: Zechariah 4:5-6

Thursday, August 5, 2021

He answered, "Do you not know what these are?"
"No, my lord," I replied.
So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' " says the Lord Almighty.
— Zechariah 4:5-6
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

There are times in each of our spiritual lives when we face challenges far too big for our own resources and strengths. Zerubabbel faced such a challenge. God sent a prophet to remind him, and remind us through him, that our greatest victories will not be won by our power and might. No, these most significant victories - the ones that catch us up in God's great story of salvation - will occur when we trust that God's power is greater than our weakness and God's might is greater than our insufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 3:14-21). The real question that each of us must face is very simple: in our personal lives, and in our ministry efforts, where do we place our trust, and what is the source of our confidence? Are they in our abilities, skills, insight, and strength, or God's?

My Prayer...

Please forgive me, dear Father and God the Lord Almighty, for trusting in my own power too much and not leaning into you and your might. Forgive me, God, for being overwhelmed and afraid by the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities placed before me. Through your great stories of faithfulness and victory in the Old Testament, please stir me to trust that your power is at work in me and your people, as you empower us through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Victory Comes by the Oil of the Holy Spirit
Devo: Spiritual Warfare
"Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but..."
By His Spirit
Illustration of Zechariah 4:6
Inspirational illustration of Zechariah 4:6 -- 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
Pneumatic Tools
Article by Mike Barres
What does faith have in common with a wrench? Just as a pneumatic wrench gives us more power to remove bolts, the power of God's Spirit, the pneuma, gives us power to live.

Illustration

Illustration of Zechariah 4:5-6 — He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied. So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' " says the Lord Almighty.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, August 5, 2021

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Author Unknown:
"If you want to see God's power at work, you must get out of the church and into the world. Watch the extravagant lengths which God will go to reveal Himself to...."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Psalm 144:15
"Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'On the Move' (Acts 20:1-3)
"When the uproar [in Ephesus] was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Psalms 61:2
"Most of us know what it is to be overwhelmed in heart; emptied as when a man wipeth a dish and turneth it upside down; submerged and thrown on our..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse