God’s power is frequently seen as a mechanism to make you stronger than you would otherwise be. The truth is that obtaining God’s power requires you to become stronger than you have ever been, and that the power you exercise and the power you obtain are much more symbiotic than they may otherwise seem. The acquisition of God’s power is an incremental process where each step begins with doing all you presently can and ends when you obtain greater power than you had before.1 Your present power comes from living up to all you know about Jesus, and your future power comes from learning and living something more about him than you did before.
God’s power comes from knowing God’s will and being willing to do all you can to accomplish it.2 Many would claim that they can’t do what God would do in their place because they don’t have the power to do so, but the truth is that they don’t have more of God’s power because they don’t do what God would do in their place with the power they already have. Why would you expect God to endow you with his power beyond your present capacity while you continue to use the power you already have to rebel against him by doing less or worse than you could? If you aren’t doing all you can to advance God’s purposes right now, why would he give you more power, when doing so would only increase your condemnation?3 How can he give you more power when you refuse the next incremental step toward it?
Don’t ask God to do for you what you are unwilling to do yourself.
You shouldn’t seek God to miraculously intervene in situations where
you have not yet done all you can. Before asking God to give you power to move mountains, buy yourself a shovel and start digging.4
Footnotes
- 1. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. (D&C 123:17) For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (2 Nephi 25:23) ↩
- 2. For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power. (D&C 71:6) ↩
- 3. For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation (D&C 82:3) ↩
- 4. Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God. Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. Seek to bring forth and establish my Zion. Keep my commandments in all things. (D&C 14:4-6) ↩