I really enjoy super hero movies. Having watched quite a few of them, I’ve discovered that most have one thing in common: the hero is transformed to have or is born with powers. He or she already commands all of them; he or she must simply learn to control and use them. As we were discussing 2. Peter 1:3, I came to a stunning realization. Peter writes, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (HCSB, emphasis mine). If we follow this verse, we’re just like the super hero of the story. At the moment of our salvation, we were transformed by the infusion of the Holy Spirit, receiving everything we need to live a godly life. We don’t need to beg God for the power to pray or to live a godly life or to witness. We already have the power. We just need to learn to appropriate it and use it. So prayers like, “Give me patience,” (one of my favorites) actually fly in the face of this verse. We more accurately ought to pray, “Father, You have granted me the patience I need for this situation. Through your Holy Spirit I take it up and use it in this situation.” There is a vast difference there, because it takes into account the Holy Spirit’s active role in creating His fruit in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23). The fruit is there, ready to come forth. We just need to learn to cooperate with the Spirit to let it blossom.