Do you realize that scripture NEVER asks you to do, or be something that you can’t? Contrary to what some may say, it never contradicts, but confirms itself. I always am delighted when I find a scripture that confirms another scripture… especially if it’s one I’m currently standing on. Do you take the time to discover the connections? Is it important to you? It should be because it is a strengthener when it confirms itself.
Back to the original point – the Lord never tells us to do, to become some one/thing we’re not able to accomplish. And, it is always our choice to act on this. I do believe that if God ordains, then He does sustain. Why would He ever set us up for failure? What joy and glory would He receive when we do the best we can and success eludes us? Maybe… just maybe that’s the clue if we do experience ‘failure’. Are we doing it from our own strength… by ourselves? And the reason is?????
Nowhere in scripture have I seen that the Lord asks us to be/do something alone. In fact He tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). That certainly puts a period to the sentence. But even though we know this is truth, many times we still begin to (fill in the blank) from our own strength and understanding. We don’t need to – if it is important enough to be included in scripture as a necessary change for us then it is equally obvious that we will be equipped to accomplish this.
The other caveat in this is that rarely is it a one and done. Often we are engaged in a long process to accomplishment. Example: renewing our minds. Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23 tell us that it is important to renew our minds. In fact, since we have been born again we have become a new creation (1Corinthians 5:17-21) and are told to put off the old man and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:9). And as you can read – it is we who do the doing. But, it is also the ministry of the Holy Spirit alive in the world today that aids and helps us to be successful.
We can renew our minds, and we have to make this a priority that we will act on. But we have the Holy Spirit’s ministry to aid us. However, it is a process… an ongoing journey. And on this journey of renewal, we will discover what helps us, what hinders us, the magnitude of this adventure, and the various aspects that are included. Bottom line… we can. Never forget can trumps can’t when it comes to being our best us.
