Just Live Podcast - 020 How to reALIGN your POWER (9 ALIGN Tool - Part 8)

How to reALIGN your POWER with GENTLENESS

By Dan & Suzie Potter

If we say “POWER” what comes to your mind?

• Political Power?
• Power you’ve experienced at your work, church or school?
• Power to do good or evil?
• Super Powers you wish you had?
• Power structure or struggles in your family?

As we talk to young people it seems their view of “POWER” is the thing they wish their authorities had less of and they had a bit more of. When we talk to older people “Power” is what they used to have back in another day.  When we talk the “Powerful” often they feel weighted down by all the responsibilities. When we talk to those with very little “Power” they speak of how someone else should do something to bring equality to all. 

Power is very confusing.

We have been in places where we had great power over thousands, and we have been in places where we were powerless to barely get out of bed.

Jesus saw POWER as no one before him ever imagined it. Through his words, actions, and sacrifices, he turned Power on its head. He shifted POWER from great privilege to great responsibility.  The kingdom he created was about love, serving and forgiveness. He spoke of Power with these words in Matthew 5:38-39

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

In this life you may not always be free to do less than is being demanded of you, but you are always free to do more.

Jesus reframed our view of POWER to such an extent that we now expect our leaders to serve the common good.

The key to misaligned POWER is GENTLENESS. 

• Gandhi once said “In a gentle way you can shake the world. 
• Paul in Philippians 4:5 challenges us to “Let your GENTLENESS be evident to all . . .”. 
• Anne Frank wrote while in hiding “In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit." 

“Be GENTLE” is always the POWERFUL choice, even if many power holders today miss that point completely and if even seems like the opposite. GENTLENESS is POWER wrapped nicely in self-control. 

GENTLENESS is part of the 9 ALIGN Series. We can help you to create your own ALIGNMENT tool kit. It will cover your relationships, thoughts, emotions, time, significance, values, connectedness, power and choices. Just imagine having the right tool at the right time.

Each week you can read about it here or listen to our Just Live Podcast. Both are being created to help you put LIVING back into your LIFE.

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