Daily Devotional
Are You Relying on Your Own Strength?
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
James 3:13-17
May 14, 2024
Ponder This
I was driving down the road one day, and I saw a drunk man staggering along in disgrace. I recognized him, so I stopped the car and I said “Son, get in.” He got in and I drove him home. His dad and his mother were embarrassed. I started to leave, and the dad stopped me. He said “My son is not the only drunk in the family. I’m a drunk too. I’d be such a hypocrite to tell him not to drink because I’m a drunkard.” I said, “Why don’t you quit drinking?” He said, “I just don’t have what it takes.”
My heart broke for him. I said, “Imagine you were driving a team of wild horses, but they were getting away from you. You couldn’t make them stop and you couldn’t rein them in, but sitting next to you there in the wagon was someone you knew could control them. What would you do?” He responded, “That’s easy. I’d just turn the reigns over to him.” And I said, “That’s the only thing for you to do. Simply say, ‘Lord Jesus, I can’t.’”
Quit trying and start trusting. Simply turn the reins over to Him because there is only One who can contain those wild horses. He does not want to let them run wild, and He does not want to cripple them, but He will put that strength under His control and direction.
- What is one thing you have struggled to put under God’s control?
- Why do you think we often rely on our own strength to get things done instead of God’s?
Practice This
Pray and surrender to God something you have been trying to use your own strength to solve.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Real Truth Never Changes
Real truth never changes, and the truth about government is that it is God who ordains it, leaders who are responsible for it, and citizens who are accountable to it. The privilege of being called Americans comes with significant responsibilities—to God, to each other, and to the world.
