Dear Heavenly Father,
Your Word tells us in Lamentations 3:25(NLT), “The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” I don’t think many people have grasped the importance of totally leaning on You for everything. This hit home for me the other day when I came across a comment a celebrity made. He was speaking with one of his fans who wisely said to him, “Pray and lean on God for everything.” The celebrity responded by saying, “No, don’t lean on God for everything. Do things yourself sometimes.” Upon hearing this, I was personally offended for a moment, but I had to remember that many people, famous or not, have neglected the wisdom of Your Word. They don’t know Your commandments and refuse to honor Your instructions.
In 2Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul expressed his gratitude for having received such tremendous revelation from You. He was so happy to receive this knowledge, because knowledge from You is razor-sharp and far above the knowledge that can be gleaned from any person on earth. Paul believed he had been vexed with a thorn in his flesh. This thorn was a nuisance—a messenger from the devil that kept Paul from becoming too proud regarding all he had received from You. Paul prayed to You to remove the thorn, but You told him that Your grace is sufficient to him.
Many people are under the assumption that You were telling Paul he had to continue suffering under the vexing from the demonic messenger. This is not an accurate understanding of what You told him. You gave Paul a strategy to use for the problem. In 2Corinthians 12:9(NLT), You told him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” You instructed Paul to depend on Your grace, and he responded by saying that he was actually glad to boast about his weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through him.
Your strength works best through our weakness. This is the grace You’ve given us, but the world has it totally twisted. They are under the delusion they can do things themselves. It is You who gives us the ability and strength to move from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. If it were not for Your grace and mercy, we could not rise each morning with the soundness of mind and the activity of our limbs. Jesus Christ said in John 5:19(NLT), “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” Jesus Christ then tells us in John 15:5(NLT), “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
Our responsibility as Christ followers is to do what You say, Heavenly Father. We have been given the gift of eternal life through Christ, and our charge is to be led by the Holy Spirit to do Your Will. In Proverbs 3:5-6, You tell us to trust in You with all our hearts. You also tell us not to depend on our own understanding because that’s how we get into trouble. We try to make decisions without the guidance of Your precious Holy Spirit, and this can lead to disaster. You tell us instead to seek Your Will in ALL that we do, and You will show us the right path to take.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for leading and guiding us through the Holy Spirit. Help us to see where we are being arrogant, so that we can humble ourselves like branches on the vine of our Master Jesus. Please help us to produce much fruit for Your Kingdom, and to extend to others the grace You have so freely extended to us. You are so awesome and amazing, Most Holy God. Thank You for Jesus Christ, and thank You for the Holy Spirit. Let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Depending on You”, written by K. Lizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.