“Power is found in intimacy with God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 19, 2025
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you… I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Psalm 63:1-2
Power tends to distance itself from revealing its true nature. A false sense of immunity from being real and raw can undermine the long-term influence of those in authority. We’ve all encountered leaders who wield power as a benefit and responsibility of their position. Some approach this role with gratitude and humility, while others become ensnared by the illusion of their importance and power, feeding their pride and ego. This can be quite dangerous. So, how should power be used? Prayerfully is the wisest starting point. “Lord, what is best for the team and the organization?” “How can my influence be used to make Jesus the hero?” “How can I align with your heart by being truly vulnerable? “Show me how to grow in relational intimacy.”
In Psalm 63, David, a king and warrior, vulnerably expresses his need for God and others. Imagine David—the warrior king—huddled against the cold night air of the Judean wilderness, with stars piercing the darkness above. He’s on the run, fleeing either from the jealous spear of King Saul or the betrayal of his own son, Absalom. In this desolate place, miles from Jerusalem’s sanctuary, his throat, parched with thirst, mirrors his soul’s desperate longing for God. The words spill from his heart like water from a cracked earth. “You, God, are my God,” he whispers, claiming a relationship despite the distance. Though surrounded by sand and stone, David’s mind wanders back to the tabernacle—those sacred moments when the veil between heaven and earth seemed paper-thin. The music, the incense, and the palpable presence made his knees weak. What makes this psalm remarkable? Even in exile, David discovers that sanctuary isn’t a place—it’s a presence that follows him even into the wilderness. Power is found in intimacy with God.
Power paired with pretense creates distance. I recall watching a successful executive gradually lose his team’s loyalty while maintaining their compliance. His carefully crafted persona – always confident, never uncertain – established a divide that no one dared to cross. His influence stretched a mile wide but only an inch deep. Power shrouded in pretense tends to push people away.
The most dangerous moment in leadership isn’t when we fail; it’s when we start believing our own press releases. When the intoxicating feeling of being needed feeds something hungry in us that mistakes admiration for connection. Power from relational intimacy flows differently. It asks questions before issuing pronouncements. It removes masks rather than adding them. It seeks to understand before being understood. What would happen if we approached our influence with reverent wonder rather than entitled ownership? If each decision began with: “What serves those entrusted to my care?” rather than “What maintains my position?” Humility seeks love’s desires.
The beautiful paradox? When we release the protective shields of power and kneel in authentic vulnerability, our influence doesn’t diminish – it transforms. The very rawness we feared would undermine us becomes the bridge others cross to offer their genuine trust. In relationships, power used prayerfully becomes less about control and more about creation – building spaces where everyone can become more fully themselves. Invite intimacy to empower your relationships!
Prayer
Lord, I long to know You deeply. Let Your power fill my weakness and Your presence dwell in my heart. Draw me close, and strengthen me through intimate trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
How can you prevent power from stunting relational intimacy?
Related Reading
Isaiah 40:29-31; John 15:4-5; Ephesians 3:16-17; Philippians 3:10
Worship Resource
Hillsong Worship: That’s The Power
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