Thesis: only through brokenness can one experience God's grace, mercy, and power.

Background: I typically skate through life these days, having learned long ago of God's faithfulness. The danger, though, is in becoming SELF confident instead of relying upon God. The feeling that since I'm mature in the Lord that I don't have to lean on Him but can walk in my own sufficiency is a subtle and insideous danger to my soul. I can slack off a little bit. I can lower my guard. I can worry about things or obsess about things instead of staying my mind on God. This opens the door to being fearful and being tossed about on the waves of circumstance.

It is not by my own righteousness that I live, and it has never once been so. It is only by my dying to self and my worship of God, placing Him always above all things, that I am freed from my vain way of living and from the snares and traps of the enemy.

The scriptures teach us "as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." How did you recieve Christ? Think back on that day. Was it by recognizing your utter need for Him and your inability to accomplish your own salvation by your own strength? Was it in surrender to Him, fully and unconditionally? So walk in Him.

Romans 7:18a: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells...

2 Cor 12:9: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Woe to me if I take the reigns once again of my life and attempt to live it in my own strength! Woe to me if I attempt to walk by sight and not by faith! Woe to me if I attempt to navigate the world with my own goals, my own ambitions, my own desires leading me instead of service to my God and king! Woe to me if I dwell in the darkness and deadness of my own thoughts instead of walking in the light and breathing the fresh sweet air of His Holy Spirit!