" A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of success, and for doing God's work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own weakness. When God's warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, "I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory," defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for "it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." …Those who serve God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the earth he casteth away; he will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will empty out all that thou hast before he will put his own into thee; he will first clean out thy granaries before he will fill them with the finest of the wheat. The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly springs. God will have no strength used in his battles but the strength which he himself imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up."
"When I am weak then am I strong,
Grace is my shield and Christ my song."
Do we prepare ourselves for worship, like men preparing themselves for warfare? The Sabbath is a day of rest, set aside for worship, but even then, we are still at war. Not only on Sundays, but all through the week, we need to be relentless in rooting out our sins. We need to die daily to self while staying on the straight, narrow path the Lord has set us upon. We should acknowledge our weakness, & dire need of HIS saving grace in our lives. Do we put on the full armor of God before stepping out into the world? Are we trusting in the world, or in Christ? It's so very important to read & study the Bible. Without HIM, we're nothing. There is such a war raging around us! We need to be well disciplined, humble, & quicker then the enemy, while trusting in HIM through all things. No matter where we are in life, God finds us acceptable in the beloved. HIS loving mercies are so abundant! God blesses us, so that we in turn, may bless others. God allows 'bad' things to happen to us, so that we might seek after & glorify HIS name. He never gives us more then we can bare. Our plan 'B', is God's plan 'A'. Everything happens for a reason. HIS grace is sufficient for all things. A glorious bond & truth through Christ have melded us together. We are HIS adopted children. The Lord is so forgiving! Minute by minute, day by day, He forgives you & me, through the blood of HIS son Jesus Christ! We simply must trust in HIM, serve HIM, & remember that it's not our will, but HIS will, that truly matters in our lives. Thank you God!
“For my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
-GB
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