Christ, My Ever-Present Stimulus
Just as a phone comes alive when plugged into power, our lives are energized by the stimulus of Jesus within us.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
E. Stanley Jones reflects on Paul’s words from Philippians 2:1-2, showing us that life in Jesus is not static or dry but overflowing with encouragement, love, and shared participation in the Spirit. To be in Him means that we are never left to our own fading resources. Instead, we are carried along by His life within us, much like electricity flowing through a generator. This is what Jones calls “the stimulus of Christ.”
He explains that encouragement in Jesus is always positive. The Lord does not break the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick. He draws to Himself those who feel weak and rejected and turns them into living stones for His temple. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark each experienced this stimulus, being lifted and used beyond what others thought possible. In Jesus, our limitations are not the end but the beginning of His expression.
Jones invites us to see Jesus not only as Savior and Sanctifier but also as the One who stimulates our minds, hearts, emotions, and bodies. In Him, everything reaches its best because He is at His best. When we feel weary or broken, His stimulus is more than sufficient. Life in Him is not about simply pushing through with willpower but about yielding to His vitality that makes us whole and alive.
I am thankful for E. Stanley Jones’s reminder that in Jesus, we are not left to run on empty. Every moment of fatigue, every ache of discouragement, is an opportunity to discover that His all-sufficient life within us is more than enough. His stimulus does not merely revive us—it transforms us.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My child, in Me you will always find encouragement. I do not crush weakness but uphold the fainthearted. My Spirit within you supplies all you need for each moment. Where you see only tiredness, I bring renewal. Where you see only failure, I bring fresh beginnings.
I am your life, and in Me you are not running on your own strength. I am your sufficiency. My joy becomes your joy, My peace becomes your peace, and My love becomes the source of every action. Do not measure your capacity by what you feel, but by who I am in you. For in Me you are complete, whole, and alive.
Remember that in Me, nothing is wasted. Even your limitations become opportunities for My power to be seen. I am always enough for you, and I will be your encouragement today and forever.
Scripture References: Philippians 2:1-2, Isaiah 42:3, Acts 4:36, Acts 15:37-39, Colossians 2:9-10, John 15:5, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4-11, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16-19.
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a tired phone battery plugged into its charger. Left on its own, the phone fades quickly, but once connected, it draws steady power and becomes fully usable again. In the same way, being in Jesus is not about straining to keep going but about drawing from His life that never runs dry.
Today, when I notice weariness creeping in, I can pause and say, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me right now, energizing me with Your love.” His life is my steady current, and His encouragement is my endless source.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that in You I am never left empty. You are my encouragement, my renewal, and my sufficiency. I rejoice that Your stimulus is alive in me, lifting me beyond weakness into Your fullness. I rest in the truth that all I need for life and godliness is already mine in You.