How Can Desperation Lead to Spiritual Growth and Abiding in Christ?

How Can Desperation Lead to Spiritual Growth and Abiding in Christ?

How Can Desperation Lead to Spiritual Growth and Abiding in Christ?

I grew up in circumstances that required me to be self-sufficient or so I thought. My father began to randomly come and go in my teen years and often he would be gone for periods of time which required me as the eldest son to DO SOMETHING to pay the bills and feed us. There were four of us and my mom and my brother and sister (she was a toddler) all chipped in to help. But life was hard.

I was a nominal Christian at that age and with the overwhelming nature of my life at that time I did not realize how intimately my Lord and the Person of the Holy Spirit were involved in my life. Looking back I can see how both did many things to help us in our struggle.

So now at 65 years of age, I can through maturity in life and my faith catch a glimpse of my Lord's providence.

I understand now that I can't do anything in life apart from Christ and the Holy Spirit. Many of my life's sins and problems have been a direct result of the human trend to be self-sufficient and say I am smart enough, wise enough, and clever enough to do this and then I will ask God for help!

Yes, we do want to grow up to be responsible self-sufficient adults but not apart from God. We want our children to be able to earn a living and care for themselves and those around them.

The other problem we have is our pride which requires us to be better and smarter and let everyone know about it. We will grow and mature as a human being as God intended but not apart from him in relationships. If we do we see all the may sins and evil that circulates in our world and life.

So today we must actually surrender and admit our dependence on Christ. We do that in relationships, we do that in the realization that we are desperate and desperately need Christ. Call out to him NOW, TODAY, LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME!!

Ephesians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

#exxtraordinarygod