If there is one thing I can boast about, it is that I am weak. No matter how hard I try, no matter how hard I pray, I still sin. Sure, sin doesn’t usually control me like it used to, and overall sin in my life has been reduced but it is still there. But I have noticed something interesting in my life. When I am really seeking God and still struggling with sin in my life, God shines the brightest. It’s at these times of weakness that God seems to take control and work through me the most.
For example when I wrote Winning through a Loss, despite seeking God, I struggled mightily with sin. When I wrote Demonic Deception, I was arguably the closest to God I have ever been, yet I still struggled. Although I am not writing a book right now, God has given me much to say through this blog. But it seems the words really didn’t start flowing until I started struggling more with sin. It’s not that I want to sin…I hate it. But when I am struggling, I know that God will work mightily through me if I am earnestly and sincerely still seeking Him. I often ask God to take these sins from me, yet they remain.
I know I am not alone with my struggle with sin. Even the apostle Paul wrote about his struggles and in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we get to hear what God says to him when he asks God to take them from him. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." What an amazing statement from God. If we love Him with all our hearts, we don’t have to be perfect. In fact, He will do amazing things through our imperfections. All He asks for is a humble heart that seeks Him; Very simple if you think about it. Paul mentions the simplicity of Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:3.
Knowing what God wants, it’s not hard to see or understand one way satan will attack us. He will try to strip us of our humility and give us a desire to be ‘God like,’ the exact same desire that caused him to fall. A ‘God like’ life and attitude revolves around what I did and how good I am. This attitude is really obvious in some situations and not so obvious in others. Would you believe many Christians have this attitude at times and don’t even know it? I know I struggle with it sometimes.
When we sin, most often Christians feel guilt, shame, and ultimately defeated. One small sin can cause a cascade of more sins that ultimately leads to a drifting from God. But why is this? Often after we sin, thoughts start flooding our minds like, “I am not good enough or why am I so pathetic?” Feelings of low self-worth and disappointment can cause a distance between you and God. As long as we have a ‘God like’ attitude, we will stay trapped in a meaningless, powerless, depressing pit and that is right where satan wants us to stay.
You might be asking, you mean I can feel like I am a failure and have a ‘God like’ attitude at the same time? Absolutely! Our relationship with God is not about our own power or strength. It’s not about what you did or didn’t do. If you have this attitude, you completely negate the power of the cross. Jesus tells us in John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Satan has already been defeated. Don’t believe his lies that you are not good enough.
For example when I wrote Winning through a Loss, despite seeking God, I struggled mightily with sin. When I wrote Demonic Deception, I was arguably the closest to God I have ever been, yet I still struggled. Although I am not writing a book right now, God has given me much to say through this blog. But it seems the words really didn’t start flowing until I started struggling more with sin. It’s not that I want to sin…I hate it. But when I am struggling, I know that God will work mightily through me if I am earnestly and sincerely still seeking Him. I often ask God to take these sins from me, yet they remain.
I know I am not alone with my struggle with sin. Even the apostle Paul wrote about his struggles and in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we get to hear what God says to him when he asks God to take them from him. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." What an amazing statement from God. If we love Him with all our hearts, we don’t have to be perfect. In fact, He will do amazing things through our imperfections. All He asks for is a humble heart that seeks Him; Very simple if you think about it. Paul mentions the simplicity of Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:3.
Knowing what God wants, it’s not hard to see or understand one way satan will attack us. He will try to strip us of our humility and give us a desire to be ‘God like,’ the exact same desire that caused him to fall. A ‘God like’ life and attitude revolves around what I did and how good I am. This attitude is really obvious in some situations and not so obvious in others. Would you believe many Christians have this attitude at times and don’t even know it? I know I struggle with it sometimes.
When we sin, most often Christians feel guilt, shame, and ultimately defeated. One small sin can cause a cascade of more sins that ultimately leads to a drifting from God. But why is this? Often after we sin, thoughts start flooding our minds like, “I am not good enough or why am I so pathetic?” Feelings of low self-worth and disappointment can cause a distance between you and God. As long as we have a ‘God like’ attitude, we will stay trapped in a meaningless, powerless, depressing pit and that is right where satan wants us to stay.
You might be asking, you mean I can feel like I am a failure and have a ‘God like’ attitude at the same time? Absolutely! Our relationship with God is not about our own power or strength. It’s not about what you did or didn’t do. If you have this attitude, you completely negate the power of the cross. Jesus tells us in John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Satan has already been defeated. Don’t believe his lies that you are not good enough.
THE CROSS OF CHRIST CHANGES EVERYTHING
The truth is we are all weak. We desperately need God because of this weakness. If we humbly come before God begging and pleading for mercy, we know God sees us as ‘good enough’ because of what Jesus did. We know that at our weakest, God’s power will be upon us.
Does this give us a free ticket to sin? Of course not. No one that loves God wants to sin. What it does do is free us from being drug into that powerless pit. When we sin, it’s a momentary lapse of judgment. It doesn’t change who we are or the inheritance we will receive. So I will keep boasting about my weakness. I am not good enough. I fail people. I fail God. Despite my faults, I will keep seeking Him. And despite my faults and failures, God will use me in mighty ways. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in all believers, but that power is useless if we keep it to ourselves. Share what you have been given! Give hope to those around you!
2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Does this give us a free ticket to sin? Of course not. No one that loves God wants to sin. What it does do is free us from being drug into that powerless pit. When we sin, it’s a momentary lapse of judgment. It doesn’t change who we are or the inheritance we will receive. So I will keep boasting about my weakness. I am not good enough. I fail people. I fail God. Despite my faults, I will keep seeking Him. And despite my faults and failures, God will use me in mighty ways. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in all believers, but that power is useless if we keep it to ourselves. Share what you have been given! Give hope to those around you!
2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
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