Life-Changing Anointing

The Life-Changing Power of God's Holy Anointing by Teresa Shields-Parker

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.

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

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. "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 1:28).

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 perform?

It was because of the anointing and favor of God upon her.

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 Corinthians 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.

As God told Paul, "'My grace is sufficient for you. [My loving kindness and My mercy are more than enough—they are 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 Corinthians 12:9-10 Amplified Bible)

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. (Psalm 105:11-15, 2 Samuel 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 his minions 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).

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" (Revelation 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!