Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Philippians 4:13 – Through Him – Growing As Disciples

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Do This?

I can’t do this. You can’t do what? I can’t do what you are asking me to do. Why is that? It is far beyond my ability. I don’t have the gifts, talents or abilities to accomplish what you want me to do for you. Is that right? It seems true to me. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. Would I ask you to do something that you couldn’t accomplish? Is that a trick question? No, it is not a trick question. Then I will answer it. It seems like you regularly ask me to do things that I cannot accomplish with my own gifts, talents and abilities. Am I wrong about that? You are not wrong about that. What am I wrong about? Let me ask you a couple more questions. Ask away. Have you been accomplishing what I have given you to do? Yes, I have been accomplishing what you have given me to do. Has what I have given you to do been beyond your abilities? Yes, your assignments have been beyond my abilities. Yet, you have accomplished them, is that correct? Yes, that is correct. How is that possible? You can’t do something, yet you have done it. You haven’t had the gifts, talents and abilities to do what I have asked of you, yet you have gone and done what I have asked of you. Can you explain that to me? I have had to come to rely on you. I have had to come to you to ask you for your help. I have had to rely on your power and strength to make me able to do what you have asked of me. Is that a problem? Do you not like relying on me? Is it too bothersome for you to come to me to ask for my help? Do you not enjoy my power and strength to make you able to do what you could not possibly do?

No, I do like relying on you. It is not too bothersome for me to come to ask you for your help. I do enjoy your power and strength working in and through me to help me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. What is the problem then? Do you have a short memory? How so? When I ask you to do something beyond your abilities now, have you forgotten that I have helped you in the past? Hasn’t your faith grown stronger as I have helped you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans? No, I don’t have a short memory. I do remember that you have been helping me every day with every step I take through life with you. Yes, my faith has grown stronger as I have loved, followed and served you. Then, what is the problem? Sometimes, I would like life to be very comfortable and exceptionally easy. I would like to kick back and relax. I would like you to kick back and relax by trusting in me. I would like you to struggle and strive less and rely on me more. When you are weary and worn out, what can you suspect? I can suspect that I have been relying on myself and not on you. That’s right. Rest in me. Rely on me. Trust me. Have faith in me. I will make you able to do what you cannot do. Will you do that? Yes Lord, I will. One more thing. What’s that? Don’t expect life to be very comfortable and exceptionally easy. 

Lord, I’m done relying on my own efforts to try to accomplish what I can’t do with my own strength. Instead, I will rely on your help. I know that I can do everything you have called me to do with the strength that you will give me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Spiritual Warfare – Philippians 4-13 – Through Him – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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