Walk in the Spirit

“But the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

(1 Kings 19:12-13)

"Well, I thought I was hearing from God."

Have you ever done something you told others you, "felt God led you to do," but you later came to realize that it was a big mistake? It wasn't God at all, but simply you leaning to your own understanding, shooting from the hip.

Doing what you wanted to do.

Maybe you then acknowledged that God in fact did not tell you to do it, and you fessed up, came clean.

Or perhaps you're still hiding it....too proud to confess your mistake.

Why do we so often blaze out ahead of God? Trying to make things happen, which He never told us to do?

There are basically two approaches in how most people try to live the "Christian life."

1.  (Not so common):  Pray and ask God for daily wisdom, strength and direction. Spend some time being quiet, listening for His still small voice. And then only moving forward, as the Spirit leads—with the strength which God supplies.

Or -

2.  (All too common, especially with men):  Blaze ahead trying to 'git er done' in your own strength and wisdom—striving to make things happen on the hamster wheel of man's performance.

The first typically results in peace and fruitfulness. While the second can only result in stress, weariness and frustration.

Speaking as a man, I can say that most guys want to grab a hammer, get some nails, a big pile of lumber, and go out and build something. Most men don't wait well. We tend to get easily impatient. "Sit around praying and waiting on God?" That's not in our nature. We're doers.

The truth is, most guys don't stop and ask God, "What do you want me to do today Lord?" They just want to saddle up and ride. Ask God for wisdom each morning? Most guys don't have time for that.

Way too much to get done.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the workmen labor in vain who build it." (Psalm 127:1)

I once heard a wise man say, "I believe most Christians are trying to 'do' far more than God ever intended for them to do."

He's right on, in my opinion. More often than not, people are striving to make things happen, that God never called, or empowered them to do.

Jesus said:

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

If your yoke is continuously wrought with strife, always burning you out, and your burden is crushing you, trust me, it isn't from the Lord. You took it upon yourself, thinking that if you can only do more, make things happen, that you'll somehow earn more favor from God.

That's not bearing fruit, that's futility.

Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing." So why do men plow ahead trying to make things happen without asking Him for His wisdom, direction and strength?

God wants to break the prideful bone of our self-sufficiency. 

The other common mistake people make is to assume that what worked yesterday will automatically work again today.

Do a careful study of the book of Joshua and you will learn that whenever Israel failed to ask God for new wisdom and direction each day, they suffered greatly when they assumed that yesterday's strategies would win today's battles.

You don't know what each new day holds.

So start your morning early by spending some quiet time talking to God, asking Him for fresh wisdom and revelation for each new day. For fresh strength and anointing to be His witness wherever He sends you.

And for fresh strength for where He already has you. Maybe you're in a tough job. A tough ministry. Or in a tough marriage. Trust me, you can't make these things work without the love, patience, anointing and strength that only God can supply.

I try to confess to God as often as I can, "Lord, without You, I can do nothing." 

God said, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

That could not be any clearer.  

God perfects and completes His strength only in those who acknowledge they are weak and powerless without Him.

Walking in the Spirit, is being fully dependent on God, asking Him moment-by-moment, for His wisdom, strength and direction; knowing that without Him—you can do nothing.

He is glorified in weak vessels of clay.

     -Even cracked-pots like us. :)

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.