The bible promises given us by God are for the Christian believer tremendous and positive. God's will for us is for instance that 'we should prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers'. We learn that 'we are to be the head and not the tail' and 'we are to be above and not beneath'. We read these promises and we are amazed and encouraged.

We can though have grown up with the feeling or even the conviction that we are meant to be low on the pecking order in any walk of life we go into. Perhaps a parent or guardian told us repeatedly that we would amount to nothing and the sayings went into our psyche. It might be because of being bullied at school or always being the butt of jokes. Whatever the reason we could have been scarred by it and as a result we hang back rather that act with courage when faced with difficulties in life or when asked to proclaim our hope in the kingdom of God!

God knew this would happen though! We should realise that nothing of our normal lives comes as a surprise to God. He's known about it beforehand and has allowed for it and has even provided the means for us to grow in His grace and become perfect, just as He is perfect.

The greatest of those provisions is that God has given us the Holy Spirit to live in us and empower us to live a righteous life according to His promptings. We have the power within us, as Christians, to live righteous lives, not of ourselves, but through Jesus Christ who strengthens us.

Do you realise that Jesus said we have the potential to live and do greater things that all the Old Testament prophets, kings and saints? Look at what He said in Matthew, chapter 11 and verse 11.

Matthew 11:11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

You may think that this is referring to a time far, far away in another life but look at what Paul was inspired by God to let us know when he wrote the letter to the Colossians.

Colossians 1:11-14 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

You'll note that we are 'already' transferred into the kingdom. So we have the power in us 'now' to follow Jesus in living lives with more impact on the world than the Old Covenant saints and even including John the baptiser.

This isn't going to happen by chance though. We have to yield our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and let Holy Spirit guide us into worshipping God and following His lead in spirit and in truth.

It's a big ask. But we should remember that "with God", that is "with God", all things are possible. We know that without Jesus we can do nothing worth-while but the good thing is that we worship a 'good' God and we Christians are never without Jesus. He said that he would never leave us or forsake us. We have to believe Him and let Him live that righteous life which only He can live, through us!