Showing posts with label Knowing Him. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knowing Him. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Stalking His Prey


There is something that is becoming wonderfully clear to me; it is that our Loving heavenly Father has been stalking each and every person on this planet.
Go with me if you will and soak in this visual illustration I want to share. The picture I have used here is that of a wolf, stalking his prey, every muscle is rippling with compressed strain and tension, just waiting for that exact second when he is catapulted like a bullet from a high powered rifle onto his un-expecting victim.
In the case of the wolf it is to kill and devour its prey, to snuff out its life, not befriend it.

What would our world look like if suddenly out of nowhere this stalking loving God and Father were to burst in upon your consciousness not to destroy us, but to destroy that which keeps us prisoners to fear and the lies we live with moment by moment, year after year completely clouding our hearts?

That is more and more the longing of my heart, to see, to be made so much more aware of the reality of every moment I take my next breath, He is there in it!
It is from this place of knowing whose I am that I trust Father to keep opening the eyes of my heart to increasingly bring before me what and for whom to pray, I at best see only the surface at any time, but he, the lover of our soul says, “Son, the secret things belong to me, and to those I choose to make them known.”

This morning was such a morning, bringing names and faces I know before our Father, but in the process I was abruptly stopped, Father, please show me more than just names and faces, show me your heart for these beloved of you. The more I presented so many before Him, my heart began to break from the weight of Glory I became aware of flowing into these precious and deeply loved ones!

Rich

Friday, September 25, 2009

Made For A Purpose


I have always loved this line from the movie Chariots of Fire, "I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run, I feel His pleasure."
This was Eric Liddell trying to console his distraught sister Jennie (who feared her brother had become negligent regarding his “calling” to be a missionary to China), and yet wanting her to see a much bigger picture of who God is right then, right there in his participation of the 1924 Paris Olympics.

What I am surmising is only conjecture and yet I do not see it being so far removed from the truth of this same God and Father that Eric was discovering while he was likewise being drawn ever deeper into knowing whose he was.
From what I can detect, Eric was living and walking in a knowing of whose he was, the security of that unconditional love freed him to allow Christ in him to supernaturally naturally express himself as Eric, and that was going to be done there at the Paris Olympics no more or less than when he eventually arrived in China as a missionary.

I believe Eric’s involvement as a runner before, during and after the 1924 Paris Olympics was only a natural metaphor or expression of something far grandeur in scope, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” As his and our sibling in Christ, Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,”
This is a race to the finish, fighting the good fight of faith (trust) in the one who has called us to be His!

What unimaginable delight and pleasure must cause our God and Father’s heart to do cartwheels as we discover His delight and rapturous joy in what he has made fully available to us? When we begin to tap into, discover the purpose he made us for was for him alone, there is poured into that moment a series of continued moments of delight our minds can not keep up with.

I want to close this by saying, this world is “filled with guns and war” to quote an old song by Larry Norman, and if this mystery of Christ IN us is not broken down to us and for us right where we are, live, and folks there are some nightmare dark and putrefying shit holes in this world, then it is a gospel, a message that only works for a few good people.
Joseph’s world of shattered dreams and illusions while still incarcerated discovered a reality that defied human reasoning; his prison became a palace only because of His living presence!

Rich

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

The Deep Eyes of Faith


He believed on the strength of the absurd, for all human calculation had long been suspended. Had it not been thus with Abraham he may well have loved God, but he would not have had faith; for he who loves God without faith reflects on himself, while the person who loves God reflects on God. At this extremity stands Abraham. The last stage he LOSES SIGHT OF IS INFINITE RESIGNATION. He really does go further and comes TO faith. For the movement of faith must be made continually on the strength of the absurd, though in such a way, be it noted, that one does not lose finitude but gains it all of a piece. The knights of infinite resignation are readily recognizable; their gait is gliding, bold. But those who wear the jewel of faith can easily disappoint. . . and yet the whole earthly form he presents is a new creation on the strength of the absurd. He resigned everything infinitely, and then took everything back on the strength of the absurd.

You can read the rest here.

Rich

Monday, January 05, 2009

Going on From Here


Quoted from “Unto Full Stature”~

“In this expanded quote we have been describing how many believers may go along for years-testifying to ‘some very real’ miraculous acts of God in their behalf-and then suddenly God allows them to go into the deep valley. They cannot understand why God (the Father) does not respond as before. But it is for this reason: That He may lead them into a separation from the old source and dependence-because only in death can they be cut loose that they might truly experience the vital union with the God of Resurrection.”

“All this would emphasize clearly two levels of life: Those who enjoy an occasional “touch from” God are most often still secretly wishing to use Him for their own ends; whereas God desires to bring each one into this vital life-union with Himself that ours is a continual participation in Him. Such a life can only be experienced as we live unto Him and His pleasure. On the first level the attitude is escape for us; on the higher level it is a life of fulfillment for Him. Once we sought deliverance only, but now we cry for inward development first.”

Is it not evident that as individuals we cannot have any effective ministry, flowing through us until there has first been a spiritual building-up within us? Even so in the corporate Body of Christ, there will come this effectual flowing out-the touch of God upon lives-as there is a spiritual building-up of the corporate Body. And in God’s own time, those who have been “touched” will come to also experience their vital participation in living union of the Body of Christ.”

“How often as we encounter folk who are facing the bitter experiences of life, do we hear them insist: “Oh, I’m trusting in God.” And we are sure, for the measure of light they have-this is true. But God wants to press each one to a much different relationship than merely trusting Him for things. He wants to give us a vital union with Himself. As we have seen, this was God’s plan from the very beginning-not because Adam sinned-but because in His master-design He has desired for us to live by the life of the Lord Jesus-thus enjoying all things which includes health-not merely healing.”

It is the longing compulsion within my heart to see a continued awakening in the heart of the Church which IS His body, to continue from here to Go-without having the outer knowing!

Rich ~Even so Lord, Come!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Discovering His Love


A situation occurred last week wherein my attention was drawn to discovering something that happened after the fact.
I’m not even sure now looking back on it as to what it was; all I know is Father pointed it out to me. “Do you know why you didn’t react in that particular situation; it was because of my love freeing you.”

The weird thing about it was in pondering this situation it seemed perfectly natural for me to simply respond the way I did, and had it not been for Father pointing this out to me I would have totally missed it.

What I saw in this was a wonderful sense that He was doing far more than any of my senses were able to detect from deep within me.
It became startling clear to me if this most natural response came forth from me as a result of His love freeing me, then I could continue to rest in the security of this same love to bring forth all He desired in my life.
Wow, what a discovery!

I found what Darrin and Amy where sharing over at the Free Believers Network so illustrated even further what Father was making real to and in me. Take a listen to, "The Essence of Christianity."
In my opinion Father is so wanting to bring further revelation and understanding into my/our lives regarding the fact that we are alive only because of the life of another living in us as us.

Rich

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Certainty within Uncertainty



I love this image, I looked for something under the search of unshakable, and this gem undeniably spoke of its power.
The spirit of our Father speaks from and into the deep places within us, far deeper than mere logic or common sense, he cuts through the uncertainties with an assurance that He can be depended upon. Let's look at that spoken by Him, this promise for us way back then, and its living unshakable evidence for us today.

Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen,Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted,Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty,I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength.I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain!

The scriptures like life are filled with apparent incongruencies or more to the point seemingly flagrant oxymoron’s.
One thing that is becoming undeniably clear to me is the uncertainty of daily life/events as well as it being unmistakably seen in flesh and blood people.

Does one as a Christ knower, have to apologize for the assurance, certainty that becomes the very fabric of their disposition as a result of becoming a new creation initiated through the finished work of the cross?
The following words, certainty, certitude, assurance, conviction, are nouns meaning at their root, freedom from doubt.
Maybe because so few of us as a Christ knower understand so little of how God the Father designed us in our physical makeup (spirit-soul-body), we are inclined to accept that when we are outwardly tossed to and fro in an ocean of doubt, all certainty and assurance is but wishful thinking?

Is it because we have been ruled by the prince of the air for most of our lives not only before being received of the Father, but in many if not most cases long afterward as well, meaning, if our point of reference is our soul instead of our spirit and it being in a union with God who IS a Spirit, what we think, feel, etc is the basis of reality then no wonder we resemble the tail shaking the dog-us!
Peace is a person, as is Truth, Life and Love are, but, peace is NOT the absence of war, conflict, disturbances, unsettledness, or any other thing that can unsettle our fragile world.

I love what Father is etching into the hearts of His children, it says within the Scriptures: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he rewards those that diligently seek him.” Does grace have its own built in reward system?
Is faith something outside of the believer, is it a proverbial and vague “concept,” or is faith like everything else inseparable from the person of Christ in us as us?
Maybe what is freely available to us in Christ is this, “Now faith IS the substance of things hoped for, THE evidence of things not seen”!
Could it just be that because of sin and its corrupting, blinding influence upon all of nature as well as all humans included, there would be nothing more predictable than a steady diet of uncertainties?

Maybe as Papa is permitted to continue opening the eyes of our heart we WILL discover a resident unshakable, unmovable, and confidence and certainty of His stubborn and passionate Love for us that will Be the stability in the face of every uncertain myth-understanding?!
I would like to dive back into these very deep waters in the near future and further discover more hidden wonders and treasures He has waiting in the thick of all that is labeled as uncertain.

Rich

I had already posted this new entry before seeing this from He Loves Me, by Wayne Jacobsen. What I’m quoting here was the result of a tremendous battle Wayne was going through with nagging bouts of insecurities and as he said;

Though I could sustain the increased burden (of redoubling my efforts to be more committed) for a few weeks or months, I NEVER had any certainty that the things I was doing were enough to cause him to be delighted with me.”

It was because of a fresh revelation of the perfect work of God the Father on the cross through His Son that produced the following.

“That’s when it became clear. It is not the fear of losing God’s favour that takes us to the depth of fellowship with him and transforms our lives with his holiness. It is the certainty of knowing his unrelenting love for us, even in the midst of our weakness, and failure, that leads us to fullness of his life.Fear had never taken me to the depths of his life or his transforming power; discovering his delight has. I now know that the key to God’s favour doesn’t rest on what I give him but on what he already has given me.”

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

What’s Love Got to do With it


I am so enjoying the book He Loves Me, by Wayne Jacobsen, the words from so many different songs are chiming within me, “Love is all you need.”

As Father continues doing what he alone does best, opening eyes to the reality of Him being Love, suddenly we begin to discover in Him in us as us a substance/evidence (Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen) we tried to obtain in having the right terminology/theology/facts!

As Jesus was soon approaching why he came, the cross, he succinctly and clearly pours out his heart to his disciples/friends about the necessity/urgency of his soon departure. Here is a sample of Jesus not wanting to leave them in the lurch. “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

From He Loves Me: “Could the invitation be any clearer? Jesus told his followers about a house, with a Father who waits for them to come and take their place in his home. Does this sound familiar?
We so easily miss the point of his words when we mistakenly relegate them to the distant future involving a second coming and mansions in heaven.”
The cross stands as the pivotal event in opening the door for us to dwell in the Father’s love.
He was going to open a door and return after the Resurrection to show them how to live in his Father’s house-the place in the Father’s heart he’s prepared for each one of them.
The disciples, however, couldn’t make sense of his words.

He went on to tell them they knew the way and where he was going. One of the disciples spoke up, “we not only do not know where you are going, but how can we know the way?”
The quick to the heart comment by Jesus: I am the way and the truth and the life!
He knew they were confused. He knew they didn’t understand all that he spelled out for them. But he cut through their fear based paralysis by saying, “You know me! I will get you there.” Notice how he focused not on the process they would have to follow, but on a person they would need to know. He took it right back to relationship again. “Stay with me; you’ll know everything you need to know.”

Is it really any different this side of the cross/resurrection, meaning if we do NOT know we are loved, is it any wonder that we resort out of fear and cling to establishing the right answers, theology having a great form but experiencing little to no substance?
Maybe it has never really changed, Him calling us into a living vibrant growing learning of him relationship. See the following.
Without knowing the author of the scriptures, is it any wonder why we flounder like fish out of water merely quoting what He said verses hearing Him the true and lasting Peace in us as us, in a world of turmoil/trouble?

Peace I give unto you!

Rich

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Awakened but Still Asleep

This morning I sensed Father saying too me, “That word you keep using, ‘awakened,’ maybe that doesn’t mean what you think it means.”
In fact I have used that word a lot and because of Him getting my attention, you know those crazy nudges he uses I am beginning to see what I was not seeing, in a much fuller way.

I heard this illustration a long time ago and it speaks graphically of what I want to open up here for further thought and conversation amongst my wonderful siblings.
It’s the story of a ship Captain who has become derelict in his duties and gotten himself so stone drunk he has passed out. Not realizing he has abandoned his role as the captain and not recognizing the seriousness of his ship floundering at sea because of a strong wind that has suddenly turned into a vicious ship eater.
Panic grips the hearts of the crew, where is the captain they yell out in desperation. One of the officers goes down to the captain’s cabin and finds to his horror the captain is in a drunken sleep. Shaking him violently he yells, the ship is about to crash upon the reef, we have to do something immediately sir. The captain although still intoxicated somehow understands what is being said, he then proceeds to the upper deck to assume his role of captain.

I’ve deliberately stopped the story here to further illustrate my point regarding the word awakened.
The reality of impending doom was soon realized by the captain, but simply being awakened did not automatically save the ship, he needed to act now that he was awakened.

Through out the body of Christ so many are being awakened, but this does not guarantee that they are or will take the needed and necessary steps of addressing the seriousness of their situation, whatever that might be.
Who are they turning too? “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

The burden I am experiencing regarding this awakening in the body is first prayer, and secondly when and where possible pointing those being awakened to their source, Christ in them, their only Life!
I’m going to throw this in here for a rhetorical question. When baby ducks come out of their shells and there is any water close by, how long of a pre-swimming course do they enroll in before taking that big plunge?
If you have ever seen this humorous site of these little puff balls running their little legs off and diving into a foreign substance (water) that hey have never been in before and swimming as if they are pros, you know there is a inner knowing they have built into them to do this.

Why do those who have been awakened from their sleep need anyone to instruct them to now work out what Father has worked into them, working out their own salvation?
There is something drastically wrong when we have to take the responsibility to instruct those whom the Father by His spirit has written into the DNA of his children how to live as His child, something far more powerful and glorious than that stamped into a little duck that instantly after hatching swims.
Let’s trust Father to open our eyes that much more to Know that we already have all that is needed to keep stepping forward in Him.

Rich

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Assured and Reassured

Recently while driving from point A to point B I had a flash thought shoot through my mind. I viewed a closed business that has been closed seemingly for ever, at least for most of the 19 years we have lived here. In my mind this scenario unfolded. I was imagining a business man seriously considering going ahead after having purchased this building, totally renovating it and then planning on opening it, but then, according to him, a nagging thought came to the fore front of his thinking. Maybe it might be a good thing to hold on for 6 to 12 months before proceeding any further with going ahead with his plans in lieu of the extremely shaky and unstable financial situation.

Somehow I knew this was not anything more than an illustrated and highlighted picture Father was using to speak into my heart.
What he began to say to me rocked my world, but isn’t that the way that it should be, heck, the God and Father of the Universe longing to engage me, one of His sons in a heart to heart interaction.
Before I go on I want to say even though what I will be sharing here will to some appear to be the soundings, ramblings of an alarmist or extremist, it is neither!

Since the fall/rebellion in the garden, but specifically in the heart of man, sins invasion has infiltrated this entire race called, “human,” not to mention the entire planet.
“All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.”

For an instant I became acutely aware of an inner knowing of an impending and foreboding forth coming. I am not an animal, but this must have been as close as anything that could be depicted within certain animals that are able to detect the embryonic vibrations of soon to explode, earth quakes and tsunami’s and other such phenomena.
Within this flash of these thoughts I could see and hear a reasoning that went something like this.

Lord I want you to assure me that by trusting in you, you will keep me from all harm, I want to know that I can count on you to do this so that I can be in control.
Before I finish what I was privy to, this needs to be highlighted in a bold and sober way. I heard Papa say the following, “in the past, in wars, famines, floods, hurricanes and many, many other natural disasters, there have been many who have been killed and many who going through the very same things, have been spared. What is about to unfold in and upon the earth is unlike these previous out of control disasters, there is about to be released something so unimaginable that NO one will go unaffected, or unscathed by this.”

If it ended there, I’m not sure I would be convinced I was hearing from my Papa, but he went on to say this, "as you know, sufficient unto the day are the pressures, evils therein. I am making my heart known to many throughout the earth, and in doing so I have given my assurance, and I will reassure as many times as required or needed within the hearts of my children, of one thing, an establishing in the true knowledge of my total, unconditional, unchanging, never letting go of MY love for them! There will be NO escaping what is soon to be unleashed upon the earth and ONLY the reality of being now in this moment rooted, established in the inner knowing of my committed loved for them will this be their only way of escape."

I urge implore you to turn to Him, the Father of your spirit, and allow Him to examine you to find out whether you are even in the faith as our brother Paul has said. Do not settle for anything less than asking Papa to assure you and reassure you of the complete sufficiency of His love for YOU!
With all my heart I believe stamped into the DNA of our being is a hunger that compels us, those who will simply yield to this inner prompting to know Him the Truth, and to discover that He is well able to completely establish you in the true knowledge of that which will see you through to the end of your course.

Fight the good fight of faith; endure hardness as a good soldier of the cross.


Rich

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

This is Not a Teaching



Why can’t it simply be an everyday interacting, from a simple smile to an extended dialogue?
If it is Christ in us as us, then maybe as we’re simply Being these new creations He has made and is making us to BE, then perhaps He, the spirit of truth and grace is actually doing the teaching, ya think?

I love it where our brother John says; “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.”

Is this saying we are now a one man show, I don’t think so, but I am convinced that there is no one better equipped to hear from the Father than we are, unless of course He is not in us.
We have been duped, hood winked into voluntarily giving over that part of our birth right, hearing Him for our self. It’s the Spirit himself that is revealing this one in us as our only Life, and out this continued unveiling, all wisdom and knowledge is available to us in Christ who IS our only life! We ARE complete in Him!

Pardon my French here, but what the hell does it matter how well others appear to being hearing from the Father, as long as we are dependent upon anyone other than the Father of our spirit, we are kept enslaved. Second hand revelation is always going to keep us dependent upon the arm of flesh.
I get so damn ticked off at hearing, Bro, you have to listen to this great teaching, oh my God, you’ll be blown away, and other pathetic crap, when all the time the spirit is wanting to make real to and in us our loving Father and his closeness to us.

As long as we continue to give a mind to the Great Oz whoever that might be in your life, you're screwed.

By the way, this is NOT, a teaching!!!!

Rich

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Is it Christ-Life, or Church-life




I was on my way home finishing up my mail route when this thought burped up into view.
Am I being loved of the Father because “It’s His ministry”, or am I being loved for who’s I am?
I can just imagine the looks on the face of my wife, son and daughter when I tell them, you’re so loved by me, why, because it’s “my ministry”.
They look at me and ask, ‘what ministry is that dad,’ to which I reply, surely you jest, why of course it’s the ministry of I’m so full of myself I can hardly stand it!

Right from the get-go I know I am not stupid enough to think for even a nano second that I am going to write some definitive treatise on differentiating between one word and another. In this case the difference between the Life of (Christ) the Father and church life.
Words are, and always will be synonymous with meanings that might be true to a person, and yet when one believes white is actually black and vice versa, does that make it so-true?

It takes what it takes to slice, cut through the deception and blindness in us all, none of us has escaped or gone unscathed being born in sin and shaped in iniquity, none!
The disentanglement taking place within a believers life is an inside job, the One who has called us is the same one saying the same thing, “If you continue to follow me, you will KNOW the truth and the TRUTH will set/make you free.”
Truth is only relative as long as it is not evidenced in a person, the Christ as Jesus.

More and more I am seeing ‘ministry’ being a cheap substitute for something that will impress others with who I am. Only the love of the Father is able to bring definition and completeness in and to us, and make us living expressions of His heart for this world. Why would I want a ministry when His grace has opened a door no man can shut, a door he has opened wide to know this One who has called me to BE His.

I remember my former pastor saying to me in light of sharing some of things Father had been making real in and to me, “Rich, we are saying the same things.” I went away shaking my head in bewilderment; we were NOT saying the same thing. White really is Not black.

A table is not a chair, and a chair is not a table, oh the desperate need for the eyes of our heart to be opened, that He would flood us through and through with His wisdom along with the spirit of revelation and continue to pull back the (curtain) veil, that we might SEE Him and no longer confuse His life in us as us, for the best that flesh can do calling it the church!

Even so Lord, come!

Rich

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Our Metal-Mettle Being Tested


At the suggestion of my friend Dave after reading my reply to Pete, he thought this would flow nicely with it, I agree.

Rich

I couldn't resist sharing this from Wayne Jacobsen's book, The Naked Church.

"Gold refined by fire." 'Fire-refined gold is a common biblical analogy for an active faith that can stand the test of difficult circumstances. It is a far cry from the pseudofaith touted today that attempts to compel God to give us whatever we desire. Faith is not a gimmick; it is an intimate trust and dependence on God that is not hinged to circumstances but grounded deep in God's nature.'


Boasting in our Weakness
Watchman Née


''He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness.' Most gladly therefore I will rather boast in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may tabernacle over me.'' II Corinthians 12:9

It is one thing to say that we cannot make it, and it is another thing to give up trying to make it altogether. Can we see that these are two things? The first condition to victory is to realize that we cannot make it, and the second is to give up trying to make it. If we will admit that we cannot make it and give up trying to make it, we will overcome.

What does it mean to try to make it? Let me take temper as an example. Suppose you are a quick-tempered person, and you cannot control your temper. The more you try, the more you fail. You admit that you can do nothing about your temper. What should you do? You know with certainty that there is no way to control your temper, yet you still try to control it. Then what do you do? You try to be more careful when you speak with others. You try to avoid those with whom you cannot get along well, and you try to talk to those with whom you can get along well. You avoid fellowship with those who agitate you and run away from their face. Every time you are about to lose your temper, you try your best to suppress it. You try to suppress it with more prayers. What is this? This is being unable, yet at the same time trying to be able.

Brothers and sisters, please remember that the condition of victory is acknowledging that we are unable, and the greatest barrier to victory is trying to be able. Victory is from Christ; it is Christ who is living on our behalf. The overcoming life requires that we take a stand and declare, ''I cannot make it and I do not intend to make it. Please make it for me. I will not fabricate my own victory.'' I have heard a few sisters remark to me, ''Brother Nee, it would be wonderful if my temper could improve a little.'' I always tell them, ''You have to thank the Lord for your quick temper.''

Weakness is not something that one should lament over or weep about. Weakness is something that one should boast in. You may have said, ''Thank and praise the Lord He has made me overcome,'' but have you ever said, ''Thank and praise the Lord, He has made me fail miserably''? You thank and praise the Lord for giving you patience, but have you thanked and praised the Lord for your impossible temper? Have you thanked and praised Him for your pride? Have you thanked and praised Him for your jealousy? Have you thanked and praised Him for your unclean thoughts within and for your sin? Brothers and sisters, do you have a sin which you cannot even confess? What are you going to do? Are you going to be sorrowful? It is a glorious thing for a man to realize that he is helpless. Once the Lord shows you that you cannot make it, He will immediately show you that God can make it. Your Lord does not show you your inability to discourage you, but for you to believe that He has an excellent opportunity to work in you. In the past you may have grieved over your weakness or wept over your sins. But today you can boast and praise! ''Lord I thank You because I cannot make it. I thank you because I have no way to overcome. I am not able. I rejoice because I am not able. I rejoice because I cannot do anything. Only You can do everything.'' If you do this, you will overcome.