Key Bible Verse: I do not trust my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. It is you who gives us victory (Psalm 44:6-7). Bonus Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10

John still remembers sitting down with Bill more than 18 years ago when Bill was his boss. John had just finished four years of seminary, and came complete with a briefcase and a shelf full of scholarly books. He told Bill, "I think there are about two or three issues that I haven't yet overcome. They're not too complex or difficult. Once I get those solved I really think I can be used by God in a big way."

John expected Bill to respond, "Well, let's get to work on those. What are they? Let's look at them one at a time and resolve them so you can really take off."

Instead Bill looked at John for a long time and then slowly said the words to John that God used to change the entire focus of how he lives the Christian life. "John, then I hope that you never, ever completely solve those issues. You'll become self-dependent. You'll become self-sufficient. The goal isn't for you to get all of your 'stuff' solved. You never will. There's an endless list of stuff. God is gracious to reveal only a snippet at a time. The goal is to learn to depend on—to trust—what God says is true about you, so that together you can begin dealing with that stuff."

—Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, & John Lynch in TrueFaced

My Response: When is self-confidence a trap for me?

Adapted from TrueFaced (NavPress, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Forgive me for calling you Lord and then trying to run things as if You weren't in charge.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter    RSS Feed   RSS Help