Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
When we say, “I can manage this problem by myself, Lord,” God says, “Okay, you do it then.”
But when we say, “Help me, Lord! I need You. I cannot do this on my own,” God says, “Good, I have been waiting for you to say that”.
That is how God is — He loves it when you depend on Him. Depending on God is how we rest in His strength.
When you think that you are strong and don’t need God, He cannot help you. But when you need Him and look to Him, He will not leave you weak and helpless. He becomes the strength of your life. He becomes the breakthrough that you need.
The culture and mindset of the world is “I have to be strong and self-dependent”. But this is not the culture of God’s Kingdom. When our old man (nature) dies to Christ, we need to die to the culture of the world that governed us.
A young man in his late 20s with a drug habit said, “Pastor, please pray that God will help me. I want to break this addictive habit to drugs.” He said, “With God’s help, I will discipline myself and try my best to quit the habit.” Now, this sounds like a reasonable prayer request doesn’t it. But it will never bring the results this man is looking for because he is trying to break this habit in his own strength.
The pastor told him, “You cannot, but God can.”
This had to be explained several times until he realized it was not his self-discipline or willpower that would help him overcome his addictive habit, but the power of God’s grace! He finally understood that true deliverance from this destructive habit would not come by his own strength, but by “the strength of God”.
Today this man is free from that addiction. He has experienced true deliverance, not just an outward form of discipline and willpower, but an inward transformation by the power of God.
As you rest in God’s strength, you will see His power manifesting in your life!