WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG, said the Apostle Paul as he rejoiced in his weaknesses and infirmities. Paul understood when he finally got out of the way of doing things on his own strength, Jesus was glorified. The Lord never asks you to do things in your strength and according to your own ability; quite the opposite. He says, “Child, just surrender. Surrender your will. Surrender your way. Surrender at the cross and let Me be your strength.” YET, we still think that God needs our help. Yes, you have a job to do, and yes, He desires to use you, but He only asks you to be faithful, to persevere and make yourself available for His service. “Here I am God use this broken vessel”. Success is only found in your obedience to His ways.
I can be hard-headed. I have a lot of personal strength. I can just put my head down and plow through. Yet, personal strength can only take you so far. It is when I understand my complete weakness and brokenness that I finally will ask God to take over. Usually at this point, I am so exhausted from trying to do it on my strength that I willingly submit. I could’ve saved myself a lot anguish by just relying on His strength from the beginning. I’m learning to fall down immediately and cry out to the Lord for help. How much time could you have saved yourself by going to the throne of grace first? How much anguish could you have been spared? When will you finally learn your lesson? How long until you tap out? Hear these powerful words,
“The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!”
Habakkuk 3:19
JUST SURRENDER! Christ will have all the glory in a person. It is at the point of surrender and total reliance on Jesus that He can mightily use you for His glory and according to His strength. “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
II Corinthians 12:9-10
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
