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The Christian Life Is Trying Hard And Praying Harder (Impact Hard Devotional: Day 65)

authentic christian discipleship bible study for men biblical wisdom christian daily devotional for men christian leadership christian men spiritual growth christian men's devotional dependence on god faith and works god's strength not by might nor by power proverbs 21:31 trusting god victory belongs to the lord zechariah 4:6

Obedience & Experiencing God’s Presence

The Christian Life Is Trying Hard And Praying Harder

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.“

Zechariah 4:6

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Christian men live with the tension of two polarities pulling them- Faith and Works. From a theological perspective, Christian men know that apart from Jesus we can do nothing, and we walk by faith, and not by sight. Trying to do God’s work without God’s power will always come up short. Practically speaking, however, we wake up, put on our big boy pants, and go to work, knowing we have a job to do, mouths to feed, and responsibilities to be responsible for. It’s the tension of duty and dependence that every man worth his salt carries with him all the days of his life.

About 15 years ago, I coined the phrase “diligent dependence” to describe my philosophy of faith and work, or dependence and diligence in the life, vocation, and ministry of a man of God. I drew my philosophy from a rarely quoted Proverb that hit me like a 2x4 between the eyes-

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31

What hit me about this passage is how the aforementioned tensions are addressed in this little nugget of wisdom. On one hand, we are to do everything we can to make sure that the horse is made ready for the day of battle. There is duty, hard work, diligent effort, and thoughtful preparation in that charge that every man should heed. We cannot be lazy, half-hearted, or sloppy in our work and preparations just because we “believe in a big God.” On the other hand, no matter how hard I work to make ready my life, my marriage, my family, my finances, my career, or my health, there are things that only God can do. Fully depending upon God requires me to acknowledge how weak I really am in light of God’s power.

The victory belongs to the Lord. He gets all the credit, all the glory, fame and honor for the breakthroughs, wins, and successes in your life. Yes, get your horse ready, but remember that it is not by your might or by your power, but by God’s Spirit that you will win the battle today!

Reflection: (Don’t skip this!)

What do I need to know?
How do I need to grow?
Where does this need to show up in my life?

Take the challenge, step up to the task, and watch God transform your life, your relationships and your legacy over the next 75 days in God’s Word.

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To Equip & Encourage

The Christian Life Is Trying Hard And Praying Harder (Impact Hard Devotional: Day 65)

The Christian Life Is Trying Hard And Praying Harder

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