Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot

Evening Scripture

Zechariah 4
Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
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.
“What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I said.
So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Evening Reflection

Life presents us with so many impossible tasks. On our own, we lack the power to do good; our sin nature makes it impossible for us to please God. By God’s amazing grace, the impossible is made possible. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and through the death of Jesus, we can overcome our sin nature and, through the confession of faith, become a child of God. Death no longer has the last word, and our lives can be filled with beauty, grace, and meaning. 

God’s Spirit also shows us how to live. It reveals to us parts of the mystery of who God is. Zachariah encounters an angel who gives him a prophetic vision. He doesn’t understand what he is seeing. The angel responds to Zachariah's confusion by saying that the things being revealed to him will not come to pass by man’s might but through the power of God’s Spirit. For things that feel confusing, impossible, or countercultural by human standards, we have to trust God’s Spirit to do what we cannot. 

God is an everlasting God. He sees our beginning and our end. He alone holds all Creation together. It is God alone who has the power to change, guide, and save us. He anoints us to do His work. We must trust God’s Spirit to empower us.  

Evening Prayer

Father,
I thank you that it is not by my might but by your Spirit that I can overcome my sin and have access to salvation. Through your Spirit, reveal to me how to live. Anoint me to do your good work. Show me how to navigate life’s challenges. Remind me that the best is yet to come. Grant me your wisdom so I can understand the signs of the times and point others to you. Help me to be a person who lives with peace and confidence, knowing you can do abundantly above and beyond all I could think, ask, or imagine.
Amen.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Trusting God&rsquo;s Spirit to Do What I Cannot
Evening Scripture
<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/zechariah/4.html">Zechariah 4</a> Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep.&nbsp;He asked me, &ldquo;What do you see?&rdquo; I answered, &ldquo;I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps.&nbsp;Also there are two olive trees&nbsp;by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.&rdquo; I asked the angel who talked with me, &ldquo;What are these, my lord?&rdquo; He answered, &ldquo;Do you not know what these are?&rdquo; &ldquo;No, my lord,&rdquo; I replied. So he said to me, &ldquo;This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: &lsquo;Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,&rsquo; says the Lord Almighty. &ldquo;What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of &lsquo;God bless it! God bless it!&rsquo;&rdquo; Then the word of the Lord came to me:&nbsp;&ldquo;The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;Almighty has sent me to you. &ldquo;Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?&rdquo; Then I asked the angel, &ldquo;What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?&rdquo; Again I asked him, &ldquo;What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?&rdquo; He replied, &ldquo;Do you not know what these are?&rdquo; &ldquo;No, my lord,&rdquo; I said. So he said, &ldquo;These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.&rdquo;
Evening Reflection
Life presents us with so many impossible tasks. On our own, we lack the power to do good; our sin nature makes it impossible for us to please God. By God&rsquo;s amazing grace, the impossible is made possible. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and through the death of Jesus, we can overcome our sin nature and, through the confession of faith, become a child of God. Death no longer has the last word, and our lives can be filled with beauty, grace, and meaning.&nbsp;
God&rsquo;s Spirit also shows us how to live. It reveals to us parts of the mystery of who God is. Zachariah encounters an angel who gives him a prophetic vision. He doesn&rsquo;t understand what he is seeing. The angel responds to Zachariah's confusion by saying that the things being revealed to him will not come to pass by man&rsquo;s might but through the power of God&rsquo;s Spirit. For things that feel confusing, impossible, or countercultural by human standards, we have to trust God&rsquo;s Spirit to do what we cannot.&nbsp;
God is an everlasting God. He sees our beginning and our end. He alone holds all Creation together. It is God alone who has the power to change, guide, and save us. He anoints us to do His work. We must trust God&rsquo;s Spirit to empower us. &nbsp;
Evening Prayer
Father, I thank you that it is not by my might but by your Spirit that I can overcome my sin and have access to salvation. Through your Spirit, reveal to me how to live. Anoint me to do your good work. Show me how to navigate life&rsquo;s challenges. Remind me that the best is yet to come. Grant me your wisdom so I can understand the signs of the times and point others to you. Help me to be a person who lives with peace and confidence, knowing you can do abundantly above and beyond all I could think, ask, or imagine. Amen.
Want More?
If tonight&rsquo;s episode blessed you, be sure to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962">follow the show</a> so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.

Your Nightly Scripture — 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture

Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot (Zechariah 4)

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