SAY “NO” TO SELF-HELP

(Ps.28:7 ~ The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped…)

The idea of self-help is popular because it supports the notion that we are in control. In the words of the poem ‘Invictus’: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”
But we are not! Eventually something happens that reminds us how out-of-control life is, and no self-help book can help us make it right.
Thankfully, Christians are not in the business of self-help. Quite the opposite! To become at true Christian it requires that we admit our helplessness and acknowledge our total dependence on God. “…apart from Me, you can do nothing”, said Jesus (Jn.15:5).

The ancient Israelites were always getting into trouble for trusting human strength rather than God’s (Jer.17:5 ~ This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord”). Yet even after their failures, the Lord said, “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer.17:7-8).

When especially difficult circumstances or strong temptations invade our lives and remind us of our powerlessness, we have an all-powerful God who works on behalf of those who trust Him. —Julie Ackerman Link

Neither strength of our own, nor goodness we claim;
Our trust is all thrown on Jesus’ name.
In this our strong tower for safety we hide;
The Lord is our power, “The Lord will provide”. —Newton

[read- Jeremiah 17:1-8]

WHATEVER DOES NOT BEGIN WITH GOD WILL END IN FAILURE