Saturday, February 25, 2017

If It's Up To Me I'm Going To Fail

Hey Friend,

I was recently struggling with an issue about which I desperately needed wisdom.  I know the first part of James 1:5-8

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.

Okay, I get it....need wisdom...go to God and ask and He will give.  Sounds good.  But then comes the rest of the passage:

But let him ask in faith without doubting.  For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.  

Uh oh...wait a minute...you mean to tell me that God's answer to my question is contingent upon my faith?  But I'm the queen of doubters.  I'm going to get crushed by the monstrous whitecaps of that surging sea.  I can be as indecisive as they get.  To me this spells failure!

Lord, I don't like this part of the verse.  Did you have to put that in there?

Panic stricken and unraveled, I start searching in my mind for scripture.  Key stories and verses I keep in my "Emergency Kit" for times like these.

I am reminded of the time that Christ says to the doubting father who is asking for his son to be healed, "Everything is possible for the one who believes."

The father responds, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"  (Mark 9:22-24)

Whew, I'm not alone.  I can relate to this father.  I believe, but there are so many times that my belief falls short and I cry out, " Lord I do believe, but help the doubting Thomas part of me that falls short."  

The truth is that I cannot create in myself the magnitude of faith that is called for.  No matter how hard I try, I'm just not going to be able to muster it up.  

Okay, that's what I conclude about Wisdom, but what about faith itself??  The passage on wisdom calls for the man to ask with faith without doubting.

So what does the Bible say about my faith?

For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this not on your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

So the faith that I so boldly profess at times.  This is not my own doing?  My faith, itself, is a gift from God?  You got it.  Not even my own faith is my own. When I am tempted to be smug in my faith and knowledge, I am being an arrogant fool because the faith I have is a gift from God so that no one may boast.  And, not only is God the author of my faith, He is the perfecter....He will continue to grow the gift He's graciously given me.

Okay, what about all the fruits of the Spirit - showing kindness, gentleness, compassion, love, forgiveness, patience....

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING." (emphasis mine)  (John 15-5)

Nothing?  Really?  Okay what about following your decrees Lord.  Surely I can follow your Word?

"And I will put my Spirit in you and move you (cause you to move) to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."  (Ezekiel 36:27)

Like a lightening bolt, it hits me between the eyes.  If it's all up to me...surely I am going to fail.  TRUE!

But here is the Good News:

"I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me."  (Philippians 4:13)  

In Jesus EVERYTHING is possible! Through Christ moving in me, I can do all things. 

Real discipleship is complete dependence on Christ for everything.  My life, our lives, should be Christ-sufficient and not self-sufficient.  This is the only way to bear fruit as a true disciple.

Also living in complete dependency on Christ requires great humility on our part.  Every day I need to humble myself before Him and acknowledge that apart from Him I can do nothing.  That's a big slice of humble pie!!

Apart from Christ, I do not have the ability to bear fruit.  He supplies EVERYTHING from His abundant fullness.  

So back to that wisdom thing....I am realizing by drawing on the Scriptures that only God can create in me the faith that He deserves.  The faith to follow His wisdom comes from Him, not something I muster up.  

I just need to embrace Him, let Him transform me, abide in Him and watch how He will move in me.  

Dear Heavenly Father,  Forgive me for my arrogance in which I give myself credit for the faith that I have.  Thank YOU for the gift of faith that you have so graciously given me.  I thank you that you don't leave me to fend for myself on my own self-sufficiency.  Help me to humble myself and know that the only way not to fail is to rely and depend on Christ's sufficiency.  Rely and depend are not "bad" words...they are words to truly live by.  Thank you that you realize I am but dust and I need your Spirit to move in me (cause me to move) to follow your decrees.  More of you, Lord and less of me.  Thank you for all the gifts you give me on a daily basis.  May I live my life to give you the credit and the glory.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed,
ps.  There have been three separate bombings near our school in the Middle East.  The children are afraid and frightened by all of this.  I can't even fathom the fear that they must live through each and every day.  

Would you please pray for our school, the children, the teachers and staff that God would place a hedge of protection around them and keep them safe.  And, that he would give them a sense of His abiding peace and comfort.  

If you would like to help financially, we could really use your support as we have been harboring more children to keep them safe.






20 comments:

  1. So uplifting, Bev. To think that even our faith comes from God is such a comfort. He never leaves us to our own devices for ANYthing! I love your concluding sentence that summarizes our response to God: "I just need to embrace Him, let Him transform me, abide in Him and watch how He will move in me." I'm also encouraged by the story recorded in Acts 12 when many people were praying for Peter to be released from prison. When he came knocking at the door, they didn't believe it could be Peter. It would seem God honors even faulty faith. And to that, I say, hallelujah!

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  2. Nancy,
    It's interesting that you say this is uplifting. When it all started out I was feeling really despairing because I felt like such an extreme failure. So this post is me writing to me through the grace of the Holy Spirit. You're right, though, as I went on I realized my part in all of this - to yield, embrace, abide and let Him transform and move in me. So thankful that God can take my faith as small as a mustard seed and do great things. What an awesome God we serve!! Yes, hallelujah!
    Blessings sweet friend,
    Bev xx

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  3. What a comfort to know that through Him, in Him, and by Him our faith is completed, made whole, and built up. I was just telling my kids that God gives us a measure of faith, but you reminded me that even in my unbelief He meets me with the abundance in my lack!!

    :) Thanks Bev!
    Blessings,
    Dawn

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    1. Dawn,
      So true...He is the beginning, the middle, and the end when it comes to our faith. I don't know what I'd do if He didn't meet me in the middle of my unbelief - I'd be sunk. He meets me with abundance even in my lack....Amen!! How great you're sharing this with your kids!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  4. Oh, yes, Bev, we are soul sisters. I, too, struggle with that business of "asking in faith, believing." Of course, I ask -- but then I doubt and obsess and nag God about my wonderings. Thanks for sharing your own struggle, and then your realization like a lightening bolt that God will meet us even in our unbelief.

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    1. Michele,
      Oh boy do I hear you! I ask, but then the degree of faith and trust that follows the asking often leaves something to be desired. I too obsess, nag, wonder, worry. So many examples in scripture of God meeting us and other believers in our "unbelief". Praise for what an awesome God we have!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  5. Bev, it is amazing how in the struggle between faith and doubt, God works in us to grow our faith. This post encouraged me this morning. And praying for the children. May our God be with them, protecting them and fill them with His peace. xo

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    1. Joanne,
      Your post made me think....faith is not an all or nothing thing. It's not something we have or don't have and God is continually working in us to grow our faith. It's truly a process. Thank you so much for your prayers for the children! You are a blessing!
      Always,
      Bev xx

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  6. Thank you for being so transparent Bev! Just when we think we don't have enough faith God is quick to remind us that we have Him. Just when we are doubting, we find God's truth in the Word. And when we believe we are not enough, we are reminded we are enough. I need to let go of myself and my misconceptions and embrace God. He will show me the way. Beautiful words today!

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    1. Mary,
      I hope my transparency helped because I was really struggling this past week. I felt so not enough and my faith and trust felt the same. So many misconceptions we hang onto when God is right there saying, "Need faith?? Just ask and I'll give unto you...". May he show us both the way!!
      Blessings friend,
      Bev xx

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  7. Oh man, this is so good and a timely word for me. I'm asking a lot these days for God to increase my faith. I forget sometimes that all is takes is faith as big as a mustard seed, for God to move. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. Barbie,
      I feel so much like that father...."Lord I believe...help my unbelief." I feel like I'm continually asking God to increase my faith. It is comforting to know just what He can do with faith the size of a mustard seed! If we keep asking...He'll keep growing our faith!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  8. So true, Bev! I don't know that I always realize it when I'm trying to do things in my own strength or perhaps I wouldn't do it so often! ha! But I'm also trying to be more aware of this tendency and let God do everything through me. When I do, it is very freeing but also very scary--because I'm like you! My faith isn't all that big, so I'm constantly praying for God to help me in my unbelief! Great thoughts, my friend, and something I needed to hear today!

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    1. Beth,
      Sometimes I think I'm the queen of self-sufficiency and God has to let me get to the end of myself until I really believe what scripture says....Apart from Him(Jesus) I can do NOTHING!
      It's safer to feel in control....when we have to let go and go on faith - that's scary. But, He's got us covered there as well because He'll take care of the faith part too!!
      Whew!! What a good God we have!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  9. Been focusing on this very thing. Reading in The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee the morning. He talks about we often change her activities and focus let me become believers, but it takes time to learn to change our source. Praying for the students in your school. May God gives peace and protection to all love you.

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  10. Ginger,
    How true that it takes time to learn where the source of our belief comes from. It's not something we muster up...it only comes from the Lord. Thanks for the nice comments you forwarded to me :)
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

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  11. "...the faith He deserves." -- I like that, Bev. Funny how we get comfortable in our self-dependence--even though it doesn't work well for us! I mean, why must we need houses to fall on us? (Or is that just me?) Complete dependence is where the fruitful life is--amen, sister. Thanks for this, Bev, and thank you for sharing with #ChasingCommunity today! ((xoxo))

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    1. Brenda,
      Oh no, you're not alone...subtlety is lost on me...I need those houses falling in on me too! It's only taken me a lifetime to learn that complete dependence and reliance is where my sweet spot is! Loved linking up!
      Blessings and xoxo
      Bev

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  12. This was a really encouraging post for me, because I can be a real doubter in the pocket between what I want to do and what is right. Let me know how to specifically pray for the schools and children you are caring for. I would like to remember you, and then, daily.
    Happy Thursday!
    Megs

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    1. Megs,
      Like I said, I am the queen of the doubters sometimes and I pray continuously, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief!". Thank you for your offer to pray... first and foremost for a hedge of safety and protection to be around the children, the school, the teachers, and Director. Also, we are running a fundraising campaign right now for a much needed vehicle for the school. As you can imagine, it's next to impossible to run a school with our many needs without a car. That and that the lord would continue to provide so that we could expand to be able to help more children. Thank you and bless you!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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