Self Reliance

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy by relying on our own judgement and strength rather than that of God. During our christian walk we will face many trials, and we will be tempted to act out of our own strength or power to resolve these issues. As christians we need to realize that our answers lie with trusting God, and not acting ourselves out of frustration and anger.

Zech 4; 6-7 This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. `Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!

By relying on God during our trials we can move mountains; something no man can do on his own! Rather than seeing the faults in others as matters for action, judgement and condemnation, we would do better to remind ourselves that we too have faults, weaknesses and flaws. As we see the imperfections in others and realize that maybe we cannot trust them as we thought we could, we become more aware that our strength lies in God and not man.

John 5; 30-31 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

Jesus Himself recognized that in the form of man He had no power in His own right. His strength came from God just as ours does, also it is Jesus' place to judge...not ours! When we find ourselves in adverse situations, its all too easy to drop the armour of God and use our own 'strength and power' to try to bend and manipulate things into how we think they ought to be. But we must remember that God's ways are not like ours, and if we try to interfere in this way, we may well be going against God's Will.

Is 55; 8-11 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,'' says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

When things don't seem to be going the way we would have imagined them, our strongest weapon is prayer. We may be unsure about exactly what to pray for in our own language, apart from the fulfilment of God's Will, so we can turn to praying in tongues knowing that the Lord fully understands our situation. Praying in this manner is part and parcel of the armour of God, and indeed, we are told to be watchful to this end. We must realize that, like Jesus, we can do nothing of ourselves and get back into the full armour of God.

Eph 6; 10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

When all is well in our lives we learn very little about ourselves. It's only when things go wrong that we really stop and think. As we learn, we have to take onboard new ideas and this knowledge might conflict with what we previously thought. During our trials, we have to address ourselves and ensure that we are walking as close to Jesus' ways as we can; and if we realize that we have to change, then we should do so praising the Lord for teaching us the right Way.

Jas 1;2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Patience and wisdom are our strongest allies during life's trials, and here we learn that God will give us these attributes liberally if we only ask him and don't doubt. During these times we learn to strengthen our faith in God rather than our own abilites, and wait patiently on the Lord, who will replace our own inadequate capabilities with the strength and ability of the Holy Spirit.

Is 40;28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Going through life's trials is no fun, but they are a way of distinguishing between true faith and false faith. Having the true faith in God, we will ultimately shine through whereas people with a false faith will crumble. Just as real gold is found to be of great value once put through the trial of the furnace, so our faith will stengthen and shine as we go through life's tribulations.

Jas 1;12-14 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God''; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.