We go through the day with no spiritual strength,
We wonder why we try and fail,
Bad habits take over, we live in despair,
We find defeat dogging our trail.
The answer's so simple, one we all ignore,
Reliance on self is a sin.
If self could have conquered, Christ's death was in vain,
No need to be "born again".
But daily reliance on God is the key,
He only can conquer and win.
He only can change us and make us brand new,
It starts in the heart--from within.
What do we desire--His way or our own?
"I choose You, Lord, help me," I plead.
We have a split second in which we can choose
And then by His Spirit proceed.
Moment by moment decisions,
What we want or what He desires,
In this way we're guided, at last we find peace,
And spiritual strength we acquire.
But strength for the battle can never be found
Apart from His presence and Word,
We need time with Him...to soak in His love
Or His gentle voice can't be heard.
His love once embraced by the heart not the mind
Transforms us as lights for all men,
What once was a flicker becomes a bright flame,
We're free from what we've always been.
"Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them--living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored." Romans 8:5-8 (The Message)
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Right up to snuff writing here, Carol! I can attest to that. I used to think I could make it on my own, but found out I needed the Lord's help. He's mellowed me out quite a bit. Good topic and message, as usual.
Oh Carol you hit the nail on the head with "daily reliance is the key." This is a something I am afraid I am always working on, kinda like the little train that thought he could, it is so much easier when we are on His same tracks. Great wonderful poem of truth. . . Thank you for sharing, my friend . . . Debby
