Mark Affleck

I Tried To Draw A Line Through My SELF

March 5, 2021
Spiritual Growth

RECOGNIZING OUR INADEQUACY without God is not a “one and done” exercise. We must work on it EVERY DAY. I learned that lesson the hard way early in my faith walk. It was a time that had me searching for an EASY way to fire myself as boss and promote God to be the CEO of my life. I wanted to draw a line through the word SELF; but did not know how to pull it off.
  
It took far too long, but I finally listened to God’s wisdom that there is no “easy way” to recognize our inadequacy without him.  
  
We cannot do it ourselves because dislodging the grip on self is impossible when we are clutching our fears. When we are preoccupied with the world’s allure. And when we are trying to be the boss of our life.
  
Relying on our own power freezes us in place and thwarts any shot at living out our purpose for Christ. That leads to more inaction and the cycle continues. I know this all too well because I lived it for a couple of decades.
  
Being frozen in this way spawns another negative consequence–holding onto self seriously hinders our spiritual growth and intimacy with God.
  
The reality is that our usefulness to God’s kingdom comes after we appoint him as the CEO of our life and give him the groans of our soul, fears, and darkest thoughts…and our most majestic dreamscapes.
  
Freedom comes when we reject our OWN THOUGHTS and embrace God’s wisdom.
  
The bottom line is that God will never give us Kingdom responsibilities that we CAN handle on our own. He wants us to REQUIRE his help.
  
But the day we don’t feel INADEQUATE to do God’s work is the day that reveals our distance from his truth. Our weakness is our QUALIFICATION!
  
We draw a line through SELF the day our own strength is completely cut off. And then, when we feel weak, we know not to call on our own strength but to call on GOD.
  
I ask God to help me quickly fight off any urge to use my own strength for his work.
  
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
  
Are you hiding behind the delusion of your own strength?
  
“…For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
  

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