Prov16:32 Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.
Several years ago, I was power hungry to the extent that I would pray for several days alone in the room without food. That hunger is just unexplainable.
I read about several powerful preachers from God's Generals and other books. I asked God to give me a combination of their anointings. I wanted ancient mantles to fall upon me.
Those days, I mentioned the names of those preachers whose mantles I desired. Unfortunately, I never desired to be like Christ but men made by Christ. Our generation need to be warned against this.
Now I know why God didn't give me all the anointing of about 5-6 of them together. If He had, I would have killed many people with the power. Anger would have made me turn some persons to imbecile and mad whereas, God is love.
Jesus saved lives with the anointing and walked in love with his detractors. He controlled himself and represented God to the people. That is good use of power but I wasn't mature to handle what I was asking for.
Desiring power is not bad, I still do just that I have a better understanding now than in previous years when I wanted the power to gratify self.
We all need the power of God but there are two things I've found to be better than power, they are patience and self-control. These two things forms the very core of our Christian character.
Over the years, I have seen very anointed men of God who lacked these two virtues fall by the way side. Samson lacked self-control. His appetite for anything in skirt was his undoing.
For those that are power hungry, impatience can make them to seek shortcuts or ungodly alternatives when power is not flowing. That's why some preachers go diabolical.
On the other hand, lack of self-control can ruin the testimony powerful men. Once a man cannot control his sexual appetite, quest for fame and money, he is on his way down. It may take time but it will surely happen. Ask Samson.
God can easily give his power. It is one of the things God can share with mankind but the purity of the vessel carrying the power and the character to sustain it is of paramount importance to God.
When praying for power, just know in your heart that some virtues sustain power without which power will leak and rubbish the reputation of the carrier.
Father, I receive the grace to develop the virtues of patience and self-control In Jesus name.