INVINCIBLE WILL. 068

In the following quote there is a simple, yet powerful idea. Before we read though, let me first say that it is important to know that things get accomplished in one of two ways.

1. We do that which is in our own power to do.

2. We ask and allow God to do things for us which we cannot do for ourselves.

Circumstances at times can be paralyzing when we don’t understand the dynamic of these two ways that things are accomplished. Oftentimes we are prone to having a "Jesus take the wheel mentality" when we really need to have a “I need to take this wheel” mentality.

Did you cringe at reading that? It seems like a self-sufficient, righteousness by works type of sentence, but in reality, this is how the physical and the spiritual world meet.

We must spare no pains, plans or perseverance to reach the plans that we have. After that, we are to leave the results with God. May we not dare suppose that God will do the work that we are to do then do His part too!

God wants to partner with us.

Divine power + Human effort = invincibility

Now in putting forth our effort we are to make sure that we are working according to God’s will. If we will ourself to do something outside of the will of God, the divine power will not be added and we will be left with a human effort that can do but little and is subjected to the vicissitudes human nature and existence.

As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings. COL 333.1

- If God bids you, He enables you!

- He doesn’t bid you, then do for you.

- He bids you, then enables you TO DO!

This principle also applies to sin.

We are to learn from past experience how to avoid failure. We pray to our heavenly Father, “Lead us not into temptation,” and then, too often, we fail to guard our feet against leading us into temptation. We are to keep away from the temptations by which we are easily overcome. Our success is wrought out by ourselves through the grace of Christ. We are to roll out of the way the stone of stumbling that has caused us and others so much sadness.

I would read that quote again. I had too, and also had to write this post to engage with it some more. Sometimes we pray and pray and pray, and beg God to keep us from sin, when really we have not done the work we were/are to do in keeping ourselves!

Chop off the hand before you let it sin, then when you done all you can, stand still, and say Father, I have done the best that I can do in my finite, weak power, I know it’s not much, but as I have done all that I could do for myself, please do what I could not even imagine to do, if it be Thy will.

This is when I imagine God says,

Exodus 14:13 Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord

More on this tomorrow.

God, we know that all of what we do comes from you anyways, but please Father help us to rise up and –do—what you have bid and thus enabled us to do; to keep our feet from the path of temptation. Then God, after we’ve done all we can, we will stand still, pray, and have faith in both your will, your power and your timing.

IJN,

amen