I’m so excited about spending Saturday in GA with the gals at Poplar Springs Baptist Church. We’re talking about contentment. I know. Just saying the word “contentment” creates a longing for rest and peace—a longing to be satisfied with who we are, where we’re at, and with what we have. The good news is we can!
With Jesus anything is possible.
That statement was the topic of conversation yesterday at lunch between my husband and me. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the Life! Yet, we often leave Him on the sidelines and attempt to live the Christian life by our own effort. This is a recipe for defeat.
The nature we inherit from Adam is so corrupt that nothing good dwells in us. Under the power of sin, we can’t do anything to please God nor can we do anything to better ourselves. Only the one who created us can re-create us. Yet, we try to do God’s work by our own effort.
The bookshelves are stocked with self-help books. Why? The books are countless because of our desire to improve ourselves. We need to remember Christ said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Just when we think we’re doomed to a life of defeat, Christ gives us victory! By relying on Him instead of ourselves we can experience newness, freedom, contentment, joy, peace… That’s not all. We gain victory over sin, too!
This is the SECRET to the Christian life. When we stop living for God and allow Him to life in and through us, we gain life in its fullest.
If I remain in Christ, I will bear much fruit…peace, faith, joy, self-control, kindness, and godliness. But apart from Him, I can do nothing! That means I have only one responsibility. It’s to remain dependant on Christ for all things. As I do, I become more than a conqueror! The power is there within us, but we have to use it. We do that by saying, Christ, I don’t have the power to overcome ________, but you do. I surrender this sin; this temptation; this flaw; this struggle to you. Empower me by your Spirit to overcome and conqueror this struggle.
It may take repeating this every day for a week or a year, but as you and I rely on Christ eventually all things become new!
Praise God for the work of His Holy Spirit in me accomplishing what only He can do!
I pray that today you will depend on Christ to empower you to be victorious—one day at a time!
debm says
This is the SECRET to the Christian life. When we stop living for God and allow Him to life in and through us, we gain life in its fullest.
I believe you meant to say, "When we stop living for SELF…"
Donna says
Micca, thank you for reminding us that with Jesus anything is possible! I believe this is a truth we need reminding of frequently. We start off doing good but then we take back things we gave to God and try to do it ourselves. As you said: "We need to remember Christ said, 'Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Blessings to you and your family!