How does the anointing help us accomplish the task God has called us to? A coaching client asked me that question recently. My first response was that without us understanding that we are weak and we need His Spirit to empower us, we can’t accomplish any task we know He’s called us to do. Of course, the task we were talking about at the time was weight loss.
When we are losing weight and think I’ve got this, we are standing on shaky ground. We have to always realize it is only by His grace and His power that we can continue. That’s where the anointing comes in.
Just a Church Thing?
“The anointing” is sort of a catch-all Christian phrase I heard used when I was growing up. The adults in my church would say things like, “Pastor was so anointed today. The anointing is sure falling in our church.” As a child, I just accepted the word “anointing” as one of those words for what happens within the four walls of the church.
The anointing, though, is far from a church thing. It is how God helps us in our everyday lives to complete the assignments He has given us. For instance, there is a difference between being anointed to be a mother and just becoming a mother. Mary was definitely anointed to be a mother of a specific and indeed very special baby. In Luke 1:30, the angel tells her she has found favor with God
You Got This
The angel told her this to encourage her. Or to put it in today’s terms, “Hey girl, you got this!” He was raising her expectations of herself, and it worked. Up to this point, she had thought of herself as humble. She felt she was lower or lesser than everyone else. “Humble” to her was the dictionary definition of “having a low estimate of her importance.” But the angel’s announcement of her assignment and her anointing to carry out the assignment changed all that.
We know this because of what she says in Luke 1:46-48 (AMP). “My soul magnifies and exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant; For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed and happy and favored by God!”
She knew her significance in God’s plan and she also knew she couldn’t complete the assignment without God being with her. That’s why the first thing God told her through the angel was “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28b, AMP).
How could she have raised the Son of God unless God was with her and anointed this young teenager to carry out this the greatest of tasks any mother has been privileged to carry out? It was because of the anointing and favor of God.
God Will Assign the Task
God gives each of His children specific tasks. Many times, we feel like we aren’t up to our task. We need more training. We need more experience. We just aren’t enough. As I’ve heard often, whom God calls, He equips. When I have those days when I feel as though I am just not up to the task, I remember when a mentor was telling me I had everything I needed to write my next book. Her words were: “Sufficient to the task is His anointing.” I’ve found that to be more than true.
We are anointed for a task, and His power will enable us to complete it. To be anointed means we are given a divine appointment from God Himself for the task, no matter how small or big it seems. It is an increased level of responsibility when we are set aside for task of leadership.
In addition, God tells us we are all anointed to be His representatives and to go forward to do our specific assignments (2 Cor. 1:20-22) Assignments vary, but each person must complete his or her specific task in order for kingdom purposes to be fulfilled. We can be anointed to accomplish any task such as stepping into a lifestyle change in order to carry out an even greater task God has for us.
I was anointed and empowered to lose the 250 pounds I’ve lost to date. Why? God knew the next assignment of writing books and coaching people would never happen if I didn’t complete the first assignment. I had to have the Master teach me how to reach a level of mastery in losing weight so I could then share with others how to do the same thing in order for them to reach their next assignment. It’s how the kingdom of God functions.
God Will Empower Us
We don’t have to be afraid of whatever task God is calling us to do because He will empower us to accomplish them. God knew the task I had in my future so He empowered this weak vessel with His strength. It happened when I admitted I was weak and I could not do it on my own.
This reminds me of Paul’s situation. God told him, “‘My grace is sufficient for you. [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.’ Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may completely enfold me and may dwell in me … When I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength]” (2 Cor. 12:9-10 AMP)
God Will Protect Us
When we are anointed to carry out God’s assignment He will protect us. He commands that no one do us harm in the completion of our tasks. (Ps 105:11-15, 2 Sam. 26:17-24)
I see this point as a warning to me. It means I must be ever watchful and always in prayer because Satan will rally people to try to stop me. I need not be afraid. He can try, but He will not win.
How do I know? Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, MEV).
Later John tells us, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).
“They” means us, believers in Christ. We have been given the overcoming power of the Spirit of Christ who is alive in us. We are the overcomers! {eoa}
Teresa Shields Parker is the author of seven books, all available on Amazon. Her latest book, Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God, is available now, and Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds is the No. 1 Christian weight-loss memoir. She is also a writing and weight-loss coach, blogger, speaker, wife and mother. Visit her online at TeresaShieldsParker.com to find her books, coaching programs and free gifts.
This article originally appeared at teresashieldsparker.com.
