DAY EIGHT
Discover how true inner power is unveiled through surrender and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Learn how to release your trials and temptations from your strength to His, assuring you of spiritual growth.
15-20 Minutes | VIDEO, READING + PRAYER
DAY 8 – GROWING THROUGH DEPENDENCE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
The humility to admit to the need for help is prerequisite for growth in any aspect of life. If someone thinks they are already mature, they have shut the door for spiritual growth. The scribes failed to grow by the teachings of Jesus because they assumed ‘we know it all we need no one to teach us, to the least this carpenter’s Son whom we saw grow.’ The unlearned like Peter grew so much through by depending on Jesus for knowledge, guidance, wisdom and support.
In our Christian corridors today, we have many people who think they are spiritually mature; they claim to have mastered how to conquer sins, pray, keep holy, study the Bible, and have self-control, minister with power and such things. Sometimes ignorantly they say ‘God taught me’. However, maturity never graduates from dependence; He will always need you to depend on Him! Otherwise, there would be times you boast in yourself. He makes sure every time you win; you sincerely know it has been by Him. Maturity is therefore not a finished state; in moments you depend on Him, you win; in others you don’t depend, you lose.
You ought to always acknowledge; ‘I am a weak person with powerful God in me.’ That attitude raises dependence on our Helper the Holy Spirit, and eventually you realize that in every situation, your weakness is taken over by His strength. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; “I take pleasure in my weakness that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I acknowledge weakness, that’s when I am actually strong.”
God uses this attitude of absolute dependence to bring to shame those who think of themselves wise and strong as He says in 1 Corinthians 1:26 – 29. As you find temptations, don’t think of how to overcome them; just remember you can’t and immediately invite the help of the Holy Spirit. As for me I believe I’m too foolish to choose my daily attire, what will be on my plate today, where to go, what to do or even what to say. As a minister, sincerely speaking my brain wasn’t naturally that good; I’m shallow and I don’t have a great IQ. There’s no power in me to speak any sense to anyone, so my only hope is the Holy Spirit. I always tell Him: ‘My Love, if You were to leave me, let me die before that happens, because I’d be a nuisance living without You.’ I’m like an infant whose entire life depends on someone else, and this mentality has sincerely helped me to grow spiritually.
PRAYER
Precious Holy Spirit, I thank You because You are my source and sufficiency. Only in You can I do all things. Today I give up my ego and pride, I fully surrender to You that You will sustain me and keep me from falling. I admit that You are the One at work in me both to will and to do what pleases you, I lay my trust in You, that Jesus may be glorified through me, Amen!
