4.17.2026 - Jody Duncan

April 17, 2026

This week's devotions are written by Jody Duncan.

The Power of God

Colossians 1:16

As you enter your time with God today, take a moment to quiet your mind. Breathe this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill me with your Spirit. Open my heart that you might share your words of life with me.”

We read today from Colossians 1:16. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What does this passage teach us about the power of God over the powerful?

In this Epistle, Paul states unequivocally that God is the Creator of everything, even rulers and authorities and kings. God is the maker of the powerful; and so, his power is greater than that of the powerful.

It is easy to forget that in our contentious world. We may often feel weak and helpless against the powers of domestic and foreign governments and militaries. Our impulse may be to lock our doors, run to our beds, and pull the covers over our heads, metaphorically if not literally. We are powerless against the powerful.

But God is not. God is more than a match for every malevolent power ever known in this world. He is also more powerful than supernatural, satanic forces NOT of this world.

For most of my life, I’ve been somewhat agnostic on the question of whether demons or demonic possession exist. Even as my faith in God deepened, I remained unconvinced that there were evil spirits inhabiting our world.

I’m more inclined to believe in such spirits now.

Increased sightings of UFOs make me wonder if demons are among us. That sounds ridiculous to some – it would have sounded ridiculous to me not long ago – but even a few scientists have suggested that if something defies the laws of the natural world (which many of these UFOs do), then perhaps they are not OF the natural world. Astrophysicist Hugh Ross argues that UFO behaviors resemble what we would expect from interdimensional entities rather than those engaged in interstellar travel.

There are other signs, as well. I see malignant changes in people I previously admired – changes so deep and so suddenly embraced, a kind of possession seems the only sound explanation. I see growing antisemitism, which is often a harbinger of greater evil to come. I see hatred on college campuses and in city streets. I see increasing assaults on Christianity around the world, suggesting that demonic forces are at work. More Christians were killed and/or persecuted in 2025 than in any other year in the modern era. Churches were burned and vandalized. Evil is afoot.

God’s power is also afoot, however. That terrible year of attacks and persecution, 2025, also saw a resurgence of Christianity in America, and a blossoming of it around the world. Gen Z is attending church and being baptized in far greater numbers than those seen in the previous generation. Many high-profile intellectuals and scientists have denounced their atheism and embraced Christianity. There is evidence of spiritual renewal everywhere!

Possible demonic entities in our skies … rising antisemitism… twisted hearts and minds… attacks on Christians … it is all scary, evil stuff. But God is more powerful than all of it. Ultimately, God’s goodness trumps evil, even when it doesn’t look that way to us.

Let us remember that today and every day. Let us face the evil in our world and in our own hearts with rejoicing in the glory and power of God!