When a child goes to get a shot, the parents are understandably worried, and the medical personnel who administer the shot must take precautions to deliver the shot in such a way so that the child does not become afraid or frustrate the administration of the medicine.
Most doctors will give the child a toy or engage in some kind of small talk to get the child's mind to focus on something else besides the shot. Sometimes, the parents will tell their child to take a big, deep breath, hold it all in, and then as soon as the need breaks the skin of the child's arm, the child should start letting out all the air.
In a similar fashion, Christians will face hardships in their walk as they grow in grace, allowing Jesus Christ to permeate more aspects of their lives. For many conscientious believers, those who find that they are struggling with an unclean habit or a frame of mind which distracts or distorts their understanding or their peace, often they need to know that they are not responsible for making the changes in their life, but rather the Spirit of God which lives in every believer.
"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4: 6)
How does the Spirit of God operate within us? Paul writes in a numbe of passages throughout the New Testament Epistles how His working within us brings Christ into us, to live and thrive and move and have His being in every child of God:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)
Then check out:
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
Also
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1: 27) followed by "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1: 29)
Also
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1: 6)
How about this?
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 10)
Instead of looking at ourselves, the Holy Spirit invites us to believe on Him whom the Father has sent (John 6: 29)
We do not change ourselves, but rather we allow the Spirit of God to transform us:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
We are sons of God because of Jesus, the Son of God, who gave Himself for us (1 John 3: 1)
We are going to be like Him, and we will see Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13: 12), yet as we renew our minds to who we are in Christ (Romans 12: 2), then His love is perfected among us (1 John 4: 17).
Do not strain through your own efforts. Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord as you behold Jesus in the Scriptures, and you will be transformed from glory to glory, from faith to faith.
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