“My Do It!” – The Danger of Self-Reliance

thoughts for today ...thoughts about God

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by Mike Woodard “Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life” Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message). My little two-year-old grandson and I were hiking on a trail along the coast. This 8-kilometer hike was a combination of easy and difficult stretches, with one portion of it being described dangerous. I was a vigilant coach. I would pick my grandson up and lift him over difficult sections. Each time his response was, “My do it.” He was determined to walk on his own! And then for a split second, I glanced behind me. When I turned back to look at him, my heart missed a beat! My small apprentice slipped, and was holding onto a tree root while dangling over a 5-meter rocky drop to the ocean. I quickly I lifted him back to safety. Not realizing the danger he just faced, he simply said, “Thanks, Papa.” At times we all act like a two-year old towards God. Just as a two-year-old shouldn’t hike on his own, we also were never intended to go through life alone. We are invited to journey with God. David’s prayer in Psalms 139 motivates me to move from self-reliance to God dependence. How do you allow the Spirit to work in your life when you are tempted to do things your way? Lord, I know that sometimes I want to let go of Your hand and do everything on my own. Sometimes my independence can turn into stubbornness. I pray that I would always be aware of times when I am intentionally distancing myself away from You. I pray for the humility to come to You and allow You to work powerfully in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Action Step: Pick a childhood activity that you used to do with a parent, a grandparent, or a close family member. Whether it’s baking, mowing the lawn, or using technology, allow them to help you in ways that they used to do, even though you do not need their help anymore. In prayer, thank God for the people in your life that have helped you become the person that you are today.