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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Did you ever feel convicted or led of God to make a choice for Him but hesitated because you weren't sure you could accomplish it? Perhaps you have read about or seen people who had strong faith and were greatly used of God, and wished that could be you.

I think one of Satan's most effective weapons is getting us to concentrate on our weaknesses and inabilities. It is true that we are weak and incapable of doing God's will - in our selves. But somehow we tend to stop right here and fail to finish this equation. We leave God out. God has never given us a job and expected us to fulfill it in our strength. In fact, He has told us just the opposite: "For without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5

So let us look at how we can accomplish what God wants us to. The first step is our resposibility. We have a choice. Do I choose to do God's will? Do I choose to submit my will to His? Do I choose to confess my sin? If the answer is yes, then my second responsibility is to totally depend on HIM AND HIS POWER. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6

We often admire Paul and his ability to serve God many times in extremely difficult circumstances. But Paul said, "I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who lovedme, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Paul did not accomplish the things God gave him to do in his own strength. He accomplished them by choosing to obey and then relying on the power of God to work in and through him. This is exactly how you and I can accomplish those things God gives us to do.

It is a little like using an electic mixer. You can use one not pluged in, to mix a cake. It will be difficult, time consuming and the cake will not turn out well. Or you can plug it into the power and let the electricity run it and it functions well, in shorter length of time and your cake will be successful. Let us realize we have no power to live a godly life, but when we "plug in" to God, that is when we live in submission and dependance on Him, His Holy Spirit will be a mighty power working in and through us for His glory.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13
Let me encourage you today, to not stop at what you can't do, but to go on and to choose to yeild to God and to depend on His mighty Holy Spirit to give you the strength, wisdom, comfort, the leadership that you need.
"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9

It is also true that you can not save yourself. You have absolutly no ability to make yourself righteous before a Holy God. But Jesus will give you His righteousness if you will humble yourself before Him, confess your sins and need and ask Him to come into your heart. He will save you.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
Romans 5:6
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 6:23

- Sandy Hastings
January 29, 2008
If you wish to contact me personally, e-mail me at sandy.hastings@gmx.de