The Force

It's the 4th of May, Star Wars Day, so I thought I'd write a bit about The Force today.

The Force is the energy, power, life force within the Star Wars universe, that is in and around everyone and everything. Certain beings draw power from The Force while alive and every living thing becomes a part of The Force when they die. The Jedi and Sith are capable of using/controlling/manipulating The Force, in the case of the Jedi, to selflessly protect and defend and promote peace, in the case of the Sith, to selfishly pursue personal gain and power by any means necessary, including destruction and death. The Force is what allows Jedi and Sith to wield lightsabers efficiently, dodge blaster rifles, levitate, read/control minds, move objects, have advanced senses and reflexes, etc... It is essential to life in major and minor ways. It drives the stories of Star Wars.

Most people know what The Force is, at least on some level. They have heard "May the Force be with you." However, there is another Force in the world, just as important and powerful, but far less known/recognized. This Force flows from God, from Jesus, to imbue His followers with great power. This power allows those who embrace it to:

• Move Mountains
• Walk on Water
• Calm Storms
• Heal Sickness
• Overcome Poison
• Overcome Death
• Forgive Grievances
• Release Offense
• Love Unconditionally, Even Enemies
• Release Fear
• Release Worry
• And So Much More

It is a staggering power that totally transforms those who wield it, as it flows from God, and is God, and in this power we find our true identity as a Son or Daughter of God to see the world as He sees it, to love others as He loves, to be restored through faith in Him and, as one restored and empowered, to bring sight to the blind and life to the dead so that they may be restored in and through Him as well.

But, in order to receive this Force, we must first surrender, completely, forsaking everything we think we know about ourselves or think we need to keep us safe, and place our total faith in the One who truly knows us and in whom there is no danger.

In another post I wrote about how I've imparted my love of Star Wars to my kids, and how I love that they love Star Wars now. However, more than that, I want to impart this truth to my kids, that they are Sons and Daughters of the King. That their identity and value and purpose and power come from and in and through God, and that if they keep their eyes on Him these truths and this power will never diminish. I want to hear them talking about the amazing things that God does. I want to see love and forgiveness and joy and peace hang from them like fruit from the branches of a tree.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." -- Ephesians 3:14-21