Avoiding the Pendulum Swing
I understand why it’s done… we don’t want to encourage Christians to become complacent or lazy or prone to inaction, believing that it’s up to God, so why bother….
But like most everything else, we need to be careful not to let the pendulum swing to the complete opposite, to the equally harmful & damaging side… “it’s all up to us.”
It makes sense where these conclusions can be drawn… the 10 commandments, for example… or basically any command you may read in the Bible, for that matter. On the surface, this very much looks like God is clearly saying, “it is all up to you—do better.”
BUT… upon closer inspection, we see that EVEN with the 10 commandments… God knew we still needed Him to step in… We needed JESUS.
You see, a really truly awesome thing about God is, that while He sends us forth & gives us commands to follow & obey… He ALSO does the empowering to make it happen–He doesn’t leave that part up to us.
Not Just DO… Pray
Now, this is not an “I’ll just sit back & wait for God to make it happen,” type situation, nor is it a, “well, God has already given me all I need so I ought to be able to do it just fine without help.”
Consider all of the MANY verses that urge us to pray… pray without ceasing even (1 Thessalonians 5:17). (Read more about how to pray without ceasing, here: “Pray Continually-What Does Prayer Actually Accomplish?”) Even the armor of God that we talked about over the last 2 weeks (Part 1 & Part 2) mentions this at the end of the armor piece descriptions: “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,” (Ephesians 6:10-18).
It is a bowing to that power. It is a recognizing the availability of that power. It is an acknowledging that if God leads me to it, HE WILL lead me through it.
I don’t have to “be a better Christian.” I have to be a more-surrendered-to-His-power Christian.
Urge a Surrendered-to-His-Power DOING
When we urge Christians to do better or be better or live better or desire better or “whatever” better… we CANNOT neglect the power of God in that equation.
It ought to be taught as a “do this! … AND trust God through prayer to help make it happen.”
I understand that if you grew up in the church or you went to seminary, that could possibly seem too elementarily “duh” to you, but please be careful not to place the burdensome weight of that DOING on fellow Christians. Urge a surrendered-to-His-power-IN-the-DOING type of walk with God. A surrendered life… not just to do, but to will.
“… for it is GOD who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) (emphasis mine)
It’s a trusting in His power as the empowerment behind our actions that makes it possible for us to carry them through as we ought.
Teach hearts to trust HIS power, NOT theirs. HIS work… NOT theirs.
God Can Work Amazing Things with Willing Hearts
I literally can’t help but cringe when I hear someone urging others to get involved while also neglecting to teach them HOW… & I don’t mean “how” as in WHERE, but that they don’t have to know all of what they’re doing, feel comfortable, feel capable, feel they have the time–NOTHING.
They LITERALLY JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING. God can do AMAZING things with WILLING hearts. Don’t have time? God will help give you time. Don’t have the energy? God will supply that. Don’t have the capacity? God will increase your capacity or show you something that works where you’re at. You LITERALLY just have to be WILLING & rely on HIM. That’s it.
The POWER of Prayer
A great example of this is something I learned from Andrew Murray through his book on PRAYER. He emphasizes that Christians get burnt out so often because they try & try & fail & try & fail… but that we ought to teach Christians to instead depend on & turn to God for help in the doing so that we may continue in the doing. (Find more information on this book within my website Recommendations tab, in the “BOOKS” section, here.)
This led to a whole game changer with Bible reading for me. Distractions, unexpected things, headaches, tiredness, boredom, rebelliousness… so many things kept swerving me off the path of consistent Bible reading… but after I read Andrew Murray’s book, everything changed….
It became instead, not a “try to do it better this time” but rather a, “God, I can’t do this. It’s too hard. I need Your help. I know that this honors You, so I want to do it & because it honors You, I know I can count on Your power to help me through it, so please help me now.”
WOW. I didn’t pray that determining to come back later when I “felt the prayer kick in.” No, I would pray & then immediately read, trusting God’s power WOULD INDEED help me where I lacked. And it did. EVERY time.
Don’t Neglect the Power of God
So, whether it be armoring up, as we have been talking about recently, or following the 10 commandments out of respect & trust in God’s ways above our own… or in anything God calls us to do…. DON’T NEGLECT THE POWER OF GOD.
Don’t willpower your way through it.
Don’t beat yourself through shame to get yourself to do it.
Don’t run away from it, avoid it, or give up altogether.
PRAY & trust that God supplies where you lack. God can where you can’t. God is able where you are insufficient. GOD CAN. So lean into Him & ask for Him to help… & trust that if it honors Him, pleases Him, & gives Him glory—He WILL indeed help.
Shine HOPE by living a leaning-on-Him lifestyle of obedience to Him… letting everything you do be for the glory of God… by the power of God.
Coming Next Week
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A Note from Michelle:
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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Capiz Leaf Earrings (PHILIPPINES)
The Capiz Leaf Earrings create safe jobs with fair wages for women in areas of extreme poverty in the Philippines. These elegant eco-friendly earrings feature ethically sourced, sustainable, capiz shells that local families harvest from the bottom of the sea surrounding the Philippine islands. Artisans handcraft these natural capiz shells into toasted champagne-colored leaf shapes.
***Purchase these handcrafted Capiz Leaf Earrings, using the “SHOP HERE” link below, to empower women in the Philippines out of poverty!***
How You Can Help the Artisans & Support My Website:
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
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Love ya lots! Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
