I'm slowly starting to get it: Apart from Him I can do NOTHING. I cannot repent. I cannot have faith. I cannot be born again. I cannot grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I cannot pursue holiness. I cannot give thanks in all circumstances. I cannot make my calling and election sure. I cannot rejoice in the Lord always. I cannot love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. I cannot love my neighbor as myself. I cannot keep myself from idols. I cannot set my mind on things above. I cannot speak the truth in love. I cannot hope against hope. I cannot persevere to the end. I cannot not be anxious for nothing. I cannot obey His commandments. I cannot train up my child in the way she should go. I cannot deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him. I cannot pray without ceasing. I cannot even understand fully that I really cannot do any of the things that I just mentioned and I cannot make a list of everything that I cannot do. I cannot. I am not able.
Hence, by grace I have been saved through faith. And this is not my own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that I may not boast. For I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that I should walk in them. Christ has become my life by His own doing. I was dead in my sin and He made me alive in and through Himself. He is growing this truth in me. He is making light in the dark places. He is showing me what should be so obvious: I must pray to live. I must pray because I cannot do anything. The only reason I desire to pray is that He put the desire in my heart. He is giving me a heart that beats for Him and longs for Him and wants what He wants me to want.
My prayer this morning went something like this, "Father I need to pray. Help me to pray. Give me the heart and the mind to pray and to stand before You. Make me a Christian. Help me to desire You above all things in all circumstances. Be my treasure. Turn my eyes to things that are above. Help me to see others the way You want me to see them and to be Your servant. Help me to pray God. Help me to ask You for what I need. Give me satisfaction in You alone that I may know real joy. I love you God. I want to love You more. " And so, in Jesus' name may it be so. May He do the work that He alone can do.
Amber
3 comments:
I'm glad your blogging because you are always such an ecouragement. God has given you a special gift of lifting others around you up...like me. Thanks for being there!
Apart from Him I can do nothing. Thank you for the reminder.
PS We are watching Charlotte's Web today.
This is the ONE point that has resonated with me ever since I have been studying doctrines of grace. Sometimes I feel like a true nothing...it is really humbling. I have NOTHING to offer the Perfect One. Nothing but my living sacrifice open to the working of His sanctification and redemption in my life...His grace. I can only recieve. I have nothing to give. Thank GOD that I have HIS WORD that tells me of His love for me, of His good plans HE has for me...how His mercy is new every morning. Or otherwise I would not survive. I would rather know that I am nothing without Him and live my whole life in this glorious knowledge that he allows me to realize...than to live every day believing that I do things all on my own and that I make things happen.
You are an eloquent writer...straight from the heart. I think you're a beautiful child of God! Thank God I know you Amber! :)
Love, Suzanne
AMEN!!! 'For in Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever, AMEN!'
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