I Do It!”
Both of my youngest grandchildren, ages 4 and 3, have gotten to the “I do it” stage. That means that a major meltdown can be triggered if you don’t, for example, let them put the straw in their own juice box without any help. Public service announcement: Switching it for a new juice box may or may not work.
But isn’t that a problem that we grown-ups can also have: thinking we should be allowed to (or even that we can) do certain things for ourselves or all on our own?
I’m not talking about the desire to do things our own way. That’s an entirely different issue. I am talking about doing things God’s way, but by our own power and will. It just doesn’t work.
The good news is that God does not ask or expect us to live a godly, obedient life on our own. He wants us to be committed to that life. He also wants us to let Him do it. Let me explain.
Even when it comes to the basics, like successfully navigating our own complex lives without stumbling. It takes God. Whatever He does ask us to do, He will give us the power to do, through Christ.
Philippians 4:13 [NKJV] I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Looking to grow your congregation? It is a good thing to want, but you can’t do it.
1Corinthians 3:7 [NKJV] So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
We can and should plant and water, but we cannot increase the congregation. We have to let God do that.
Much of the book of Proverbs is about getting wisdom. Where do we get that? From God.
James 1:5 [NKJV] 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.
I know that the next verse says, “let him ask in faith”. But that faith will be God-given too. We can follow the example of the father who asked Jesus to cast out the demon that was torturing his son:
Philippians 4:13 [NKJV] I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Mark 9:24 [NKJV] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
In fact, all the righteous and good qualities that God asks of us are provided to us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as we see in Galatians 5:22-23.
We don’t even need to stir up the “want to” on our own. God will do that for us as well. All we need to do is ask and allow.
Philippians 2:13 [NLT] For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
An “I do it” attitude will not work when it comes to obedience to God. Everything He asks us to do, He actually does within us. What we really need to say is “God do it”.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the chat or at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.