God Is Not Dependent On Me
I can be tempted to believe that God’s work in my life is dependent on me.
I want to become more and more aware he works outside of me, despite me, even when I don’t ask or “call it down”. He brings things to mind. He orchestrated. He guides. He is working. And it relieves me of this pressure I can assume that I always have to do, or be growing, or that all the requirements rests on my shoulders.
Reflection
I’m preaching at a fall retreat this coming weekend. My relationship with preaching has been interesting over the last few months. I was reflecting the other day on earlier times in my life when I first began speaking. I felt reliant on the spirit. I knew my hope for those who hear my teaching far exceeded my ability. I have memories of praying the night before with tears, begging God to help me love the Bible passage I was preaching. To help me be in awe of it and enjoy communion with Him while I spoke. Those times were marked by such urgency in my need for Him.
Like anything though, as we get more comfortable, we can start to rest more on our own skills and abilities (even if they aren’t that good) than on God. Do you see this in your own life?
How easily we lack prayer, bible reading, church connectedness, repentance, and fasting because we have begun to believe the lie that we are able within ourselves. We are self-sufficient. We have bought into the lie of the western world that we are our own God.
How easily we forget the words of Jesus: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Nothing?
Obviously, this doesn’t actually mean “nothing” does it? I’m writing this article in a coffee shop right now. I can, without God, take a drink of my cooling cup of coffee, right? Did I will myself to wake up this morning, though? No. Did I tell my heart to continue beating? Did I tell my parents to have me as a kid? Did I create the world? Or humans?
Yes, we have choices and responsibilities in life, but that does not discount the reality that God is supreme and above all.
Colossians 1:16–17: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
You may believe this in theory, but what does your daily decision making say about what authority you prescribe to yourself and to God?
Consider:
If God is supreme and sovereign, you are not where you are by accident.
If God is supreme and sovereign, He makes no mistakes.
If God is supreme and sovereign, your difficulties are not ultimate, He can bring good from them.
If God is supreme and sovereign, you should pray more.
If God is supreme and sovereign, you should trust Him more.
If God is supreme and sovereign, you are not as in control as you think.
May these truths humble us, putting in proper proportion God’s grandeur and our smallness, leading to more trust, more prayer, more surrender. For the God who is supreme and sovereign over all things is also a God of love. What a beautiful combination. This means He is for my good.
Allowing God’s sovereignty to lead to more rest,
Josh.