Much of my Christian life has been a struggle. At age seven I invited Jesus into my heart as Savior, but I struggled with doubt for many years until Romans 10:13 settled the issue forever. \u201cFor whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.\u201d<\/p>\n
With my seven-year-old understanding, I called. He heard me and responded.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d never had teaching on the Christ-controlled life and struggled to find all the joy and peace I thought were automatically part of the Christian experience. I learned they are among the fruit the Holy Spirit produces when we surrender wholly to Christ, acknowledging him as Lord. That cluster includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).<\/p>\n
I struggled learning to live the surrendered life, walking by faith rather than feeling and abiding in Christ. Just couldn\u2019t seem to grasp those concepts.<\/p>\n
Studying the book of Hebrews in The Amplified Bible, I found an incredible definition of faith:<\/p>\n
Leaning the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in his power, wisdom, and goodness.<\/em><\/p>\n Faith is simply trusting God and relying on him! Simple enough.<\/p>\nFaith is simply trusting God and relying on him. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n Jesus said in John 15:5, \u201cI am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.\u201d What did abide<\/em> mean and how would I ever learn to do it?<\/p>\n I wanted to please the Lord above all but often felt like a hopeless failure. I could never live up to his expectations.<\/p>\n As I memorized Scriptures and meditated on them walking through my day with the Lord, acknowledging his presence, talking with him about everything, a thought occurred to me. This is abiding. This is the branch, attached to the Vine!<\/em><\/p>\n In my flesh I can never please the Lord because humanity is flawed. But he has clothed me in his own righteousness and put his Spirit within me, providing the power to live the Christian life well.<\/p>\nIn my flesh I can never please the Lord because humanity is flawed. But he has clothed me in his own righteousness and put his Spirit within me, providing the power to live the Christian life well. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n I can approach my heavenly father like a child who desperately wants to climb into her father\u2019s lap, and wrapped in his strong arms, feel safe\u2026accepted\u2026loved.<\/p>\n In that sweet place I rest from my struggling and enjoy the simplicity of surrender\u2014giving everything to him. Easy enough.<\/p>\nThe flesh cannot please God<\/strong><\/h3>\n