Happy New Year everybody!
It’s crazy that we are in 2012, but here we are. This year with resolutions and everyone gearing up for the future, I’m remembering what a counselor told me in a very important appointment. He listened to me talk about my life and history and asked question after question.
After he heard me talk for a while he said, “Jud, let me repeat back to you a phrase you used, because I think there is something there we need to consider. As you were speaking about your life you used this phrase more than once–‘do it on my own with God.’”
The reason that is important is we have a kind of logic that we develop in our hearts about God and our life. Often this way of thinking comes form our past or our upbringing or our church experience, but it may not come from God.
He continued, “What concerns me is that your emphasis seems be on the words on my own.”
Now, my first thought was, “I didn’t say that…”
But I had said it and it revealed that I while I talked real well about doing things with God, the truth was that I had a long way to grow in this area. I need to invite God in more and live from his grace. I need to stop worrying and doing it on my own. I need to stop idolizing my own independence, and start allowing God’s grace to work through me in all that I accomplish. I need to stop assuming I have grace all wrapped up nicely with a bow on top when I’m not applying the depth of the gift. I need his undeserved favor for more than I ever imagined.
If you are looking out at 2012 and tired of trying and failing in your relationship with Jesus, maybe it’s because you’re relying on your own strength and not on the Lord. He can break the unhealthy attachments you have made. He can heal from the past disappointments. He can shake you up out of apathy and indifference. If you’re trying to keep it together, trying to work out your marriage, trying to stay involved at church, trying to pray more, trying to keep juggling everything to keep it from all crashing down, maybe you should just stop trying so much and focus on surrendering to God’s power.
You don’t have to do it on your own.