Self Reliant?

Taken from the Deeper Study:

As we continue to dive into the scripture of the week, Matthew 5:3, the real question is are WE poor in Spirit?

There are a couple other translations of this verse that point more clearly to the central point God has been trying to make with me through my study of this verse:

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Mt 5:3 NLT)

God blesses those people who depend only on him.
They belong to the kingdom
of heaven! (Matthew 5:3 CEV)

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. (Matthew 5:3 MSG)

The lesson that I have struggled to learn is a central and clear concept of our faith. We NEED Him!

It might seem glaringly obvious to say that we need Him. Duh!? I clearly know I need a savior. His salvation is the only reason that my family survived utter chaos in years passed. His faithfulness has kept me through dark days and lonely hours.

The problem that I have and I believe many Christians have in more affluent parts of the world is that we have been sold the “American dream” and have paid such a high price for it. We have bought that self reliance is golden. We have bought that independence is a foundation to life. We have bought that with effort we can achieve our dreams. We need to return that lie to sender ASAP!

We can do NOTHING without God!

It is usually when we get to the lowest that we truly recognize God for the faithful Father that He is.

When we are able through his abundant blessings to afford and achieve great things we often get confused into thinking that we are then the source of this greatness. We begin to take on the embodiment of that “dream” that tells the testimony of hard work, but where is the testimony of faith?

Poor in Spirit….

This is a place that is reliant on God.

Brokenness. Acknowledging that you NEED the Lord, not only for salvation but for daily bread. Every good and prefect gift comes from Him and we mustn’t forget that in the days of abundance.

Poverty teaches humility. Let’s be sure that we learn that lesson today and embrace a POOR SPIRIT.

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (James 2:5 ESV)

All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
de
clares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2 ESV)

Pray with me:

Father,
We come humbly to you offering repentance  for arrogance and self reliance. We ask for you to empty us of ourselves and fill us with YOU. Break us as Jesus was broken for us.
We are YOURS.
Amen