The Power of Love

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

This is a prayer Paul wrote, asking God to give believers strength through His Spirit within. The word "might" is dunamis, meaning supernatural, miracle-working Holy Spirit power to operate in the inner person of every believer. He immediately connected this miraculous power to love, showing that the power flows through love. You cannot be filled with bitterness, unforgiveness, and strife inside and expect God's dunamis power to work freely through you externally. Love is the soil where this power grows. If the ground is contaminated, growth is blocked. It's simple, but it requires honesty.

You cannot allow yourself to become so angry at people, so locked in unforgiveness, and then come before God expecting His full power to work. He says, "You turned the wrong switch. Unforgiveness opens a door to the enemy outside.” Love keeps that door to the enemy shut and allows God’s power to flow freely inside. Don’t hold onto unforgiveness. Let go, not because the person who hurt you deserves it, but because you need God's dunamis power operating freely within you. You need to be rooted and grounded in love so Christ can dwell fully in your heart by faith, and so His power within can reach out and influence everything around you.

Practical Application

If there is someone you haven't forgiven, decide right now — not based on your feelings, but based on the Word. Say aloud, "I forgive [name]. I release it. I choose love." Do this as an act of faith. This doesn't mean what they did was acceptable; rather, you are releasing it to keep the power within you unhindered.

Colossians 1:11; Philippians 4:13