Our apologies, ladies. Yesterday’s devotional was contributed by Sally McClung of “All Nations” (ministry).
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“When the Israelites cried out for help to the LORD, He raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued them. His name was Othniel, son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The LORD’s Spirit empowered him and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the LORD handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him.” Judges 3:9-10

Overpowered and Broken

When I think of overpowered, I think of being defeated or overcome by superior strength—of being handed over as the above verse says. In the world of gaming, however, being overpowered (OP) means to be very powerful or to have superior strength.

The other day my daughter told me that in one of her games, a certain character is being updated to make OP (very powerful), and then she proceeded to tell me the same character was also broken. I assumed she meant something was wrong with her, like there was a glitch in updating the game and, as a result, the character wasn’t functioning right. It turns out that, in gaming language, “broken” is another way of saying the character will be OP.

I asked her how something could be broken and OP at the same time—it didn’t make any sense to me. Then I had an a-ha moment.

When we are broken (have given up hope, despairing, damaged, defeated, shattered, etc.) and come to Jesus, don’t we then become OP? You can’t be much more powerful than to have the Spirit who literally raised Jesus from the dead living in you (Romans 8:11). The above verse says the LORD raised up a deliverer for the Israelites. Othniel was empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is how he overpowered the King of Aram.

Acts 10:38 tells us that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He then went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. God is with us, too. It is God who does the healing and the good, but He lets us participate. 

Interestingly enough, this game character’s name is Mercy. Doesn’t God, in His great mercy toward us, give us His immeasurable strength? “To You, O my strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, My God of mercy” (Psalm 59:17).

On my own, I’m the older version of overpowered and broken: weak and defeated. But with God, through Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I’m the game version, where overpowered and broken = strong and victorious.

“Dear Lord, thank You for living in us and making us the “game version” of overpowered and broken, by Your great grace and mercy, and all for Your glory. Amen.”