When His Power Goes Out

Daily Reading:  Luke 8

Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me. (Luke 8.46)

Devotional Thought:  Several days ago we read of an instance when “the power of the Lord was present for [Jesus] to heal the sick” (Luke 5.17).   In Luke 8, today’s chapter, we find the power of the Lord going out from Jesus to heal a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  As Jesus passed through her community, the crowds almost crushed him, so intense was their desire to be near him.  But this woman was particularly desperate to get next to Jesus.  She believed – with all her heart – that one touch of Jesus would bring her the healing that had eluded her for years.  And, when she “touched the edge of his cloak, immediately her bleeding stopped” (8.44, NIV).  Power indeed had gone out from him!

While the whole crowd was pressing against Jesus, only this woman’s touch drew the power out from him.  What was the difference?  She was desperate for Jesus to do something no one else could do.  When that kind of desperation touches our Lord, his power will flow!

Are you desperate for God’s touch today?  Getting to Jesus may not be easy.  Be persistent and confident as was this woman.  Your faith is rewarded anytime you are able to push through the crowd of doubt and fear to touch Jesus!  This kind of faith and desperation will draw the power out from him.

What bleeding needs to be stopped in your life?  What relationship is torn and open?  What failure is vexing you with doubt and fear?  Push through the crowd and touch Jesus today.  Power will go out from him, and when his power goes out from him, it goes into you!

Prayer: Lord, I am desperate for your power today.  Help me to push through the crowds with persistence and confidence so that your power will go out from you and enter me.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 136.10-16

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever;

11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;

12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;

13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;

14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;

15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;