I heard somebody say that humility says, "I can't, Lord, but you can."
Is this really true? I struggle with knowing how to depend on God with temptations. It feels like if I admit that I can't, then I am giving into the sin. It's like I don't know how to fully rely on God, I guess. Maybe it shows a lack of trust in my Savior. Ouch.
I think the Lord is teaching me how to obey Him IN Him. I must say that, although I've walked closely with Him for most of my life, this is new for me.
If you have any thoughts or scriptures to share on this topic, I welcome them. Prayer is also much appreciated.
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I feel you Brandi. In theory and according to the Bible we can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens us... obviously things that are within His will. But humility calls for the understanding that our justification is a completely different animal than our sanctification.. and I think where this comment comes from. We should be able to obey perfectly. We are in Christ and we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. But we can't ... but we get better at it as we work out our salvation and trust Him to continually change us. I like what you have said here obey Him IN Him. char
The most practical way I've found to depend on God during times of temptations is through quoting Scripture. Either that or simply saying the name of JESUS.
Eric's comment reminded me of something kinda funny that I tell the kids to say when they are feeling selfish, or tempted to do wrong, or if one of them is trying to get the other to do something that is wrong, or they are being really negative...I tell them to say, "Get behind me Satan." (Mat. 16:23) I also do something like this with myself whenever my thoughts start getting negative..i.e. selfish - I rebuke the thoughts and tell them to get out of my head(2 Corn. 10:5).
Sorry Brandi, that wasn't really an answer to your question...
One verse that comes to mind is 2 Corn. 10:13, but I'm not sure if it applies or not.
I don't know if I really understand what you mean when you say that you feel like you are giving in to sin by saying "I can't".
Do you mean "I can't" do what God wants me to do? Or I can't surrender? Or is it a fear of the temptation itself? Or maybe you mean something entirely different...sorry. :(
I don't think we can do anything in our own strength (which I know you know) and it is all about our saying, "I can't, but He can."
I know that for me personally it is during the times (which happen way too often) when I start thinking, "I can" that I tend to end up with a lot of egg on my face. ;) Talk about lessons in humility...and a lot of other things...talk about wanting a "do over".
The answer to the first part of your question is, "yes" without question humility says, "I can't, but He can." And it always says this. My version of this saying is, "Yes, Lord". I think too that there is something to the idea that saying, "I can't" is difficult and even painful. If it didn't hurt or wasn't hard, then it wouldn't be called surrender and wouldn't require humility.
About obeying "Him in Him" (in His strength?) that is right on...I think it is called abiding in Christ.
Have you looked up verses on abiding?
Char--thank you! I completely agree with you. I am in a place now of using what I've known in my head for a long time into practice. It's amazing how such a simple truth can be so foreign to my flesh and what culture says that it takes me such a long time to "get it." And I am convinced that I will never FULLY get it until I see Jesus fact to face...but I am determined to get close! :-)
Dani--Thank you for your words of encouragement and advice. As I said, this is not a truth that I didn't already know, but it's a matter of fully believing and walking it out. I have been in the habit of obeying Him in my own strength in many areas for a long time without realizing it.
I love the idea to say "get behind me, satan." Thanks!
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