Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions,
in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Once again, the Lord reminded me that my strength must come from Him...
in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Once again, the Lord reminded me that my strength must come from Him...
In and of myself, I have nothing; I am nothing. But in Christ, I have the victory.
Today I was my usual “busy” self. We had our morning worship service followed by the afternoon Bible class. Now it's evening, and I am writing some letters.
In a letter I received from a friend who has a prison ministry, she told me how inadequate she feels for what she is doing, and to do what God has called her to do. In responding to her letter, the Holy Spirit immediately brought to mind the above verse from Second Corinthians. I then told her that I “jumped for joy” when I read about her sense of complete inadequacy.
She saw this as something bad, but I see it as something that's good. For the fact is, we are “inadequate.” And this is nothing to be ashamed of. Flesh and blood and human effort cannot accomplish anything for God. It is only when we are completely empty of “self,” and are totally dependent upon the Lord, that He has us where He wants us (Philippians 2:13).
I told this minister to continue to allow herself to feel very inadequate. I'm convinced that this is the ideal place for a Christian to be at. When we feel strong, confident, and capable, look out! It's just the rotten flesh doing its religious thing. We're better off feeling weak and inadequate, so that we have no recourse but to cry to the Lord for help each day.
Being “weak” in ourselves is the way to win with God.
D.B.
Today I was my usual “busy” self. We had our morning worship service followed by the afternoon Bible class. Now it's evening, and I am writing some letters.
In a letter I received from a friend who has a prison ministry, she told me how inadequate she feels for what she is doing, and to do what God has called her to do. In responding to her letter, the Holy Spirit immediately brought to mind the above verse from Second Corinthians. I then told her that I “jumped for joy” when I read about her sense of complete inadequacy.
She saw this as something bad, but I see it as something that's good. For the fact is, we are “inadequate.” And this is nothing to be ashamed of. Flesh and blood and human effort cannot accomplish anything for God. It is only when we are completely empty of “self,” and are totally dependent upon the Lord, that He has us where He wants us (Philippians 2:13).
I told this minister to continue to allow herself to feel very inadequate. I'm convinced that this is the ideal place for a Christian to be at. When we feel strong, confident, and capable, look out! It's just the rotten flesh doing its religious thing. We're better off feeling weak and inadequate, so that we have no recourse but to cry to the Lord for help each day.
Being “weak” in ourselves is the way to win with God.
D.B.