Breathingbook

Striving is trying to achieve something you think God wants you to achieve under your own timetable (Mat 6:25-34).

But what if it’s not something God wants you to achieve?

There once was a man and God came up to him. Soon they were standing in front a a very tall building. God hands the man a ball and pointing to a window up very high, tells him, “I want you to throw this ball up and aim at that window right there.” The man eagerly replies, “Yes, Lord! I’ll get right on it!” And so the man starts throwing the ball up towards the window. After some time has passed, God went back and stood before the man who now was looking very depressed. “What’s wrong?” God asked. “Oh, Lord! I threw the ball just as you told me – over and over, up towards that window – but try as I might, I was never able to strike the window! I’m so sorry, Lord. I let you down,” and the man hung his head in sorrow. “Son,” said the Lord, “you have not let me down. I instructed you to throw the ball and aim at that window, and you did just that – I never once gave you instructions to strike it. I just wanted to see if you would be faithful to my instructions and not strike out on your own accord.”

Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

What else is striving? How about thinking if you achieve something, you’ll make God “happy.”

In the first place, it’s not us achieving anythingthat God does. Jesus did it ALL, and that means that He gets ALL the credit too! A bondslave might be commended by his Masterfor something he achieves, but the Master OWNS the bondslave and DESERVES every bit of the accolades for providing the bondslave with ability to do anything at all! The bondslave works the Master’s ministryand never presumes to claim the accolades of any venture as his own. No. The good bondslave gives glory to his Master.

Jn 16:13-14 Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak: and He will show you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

In the second place, God doesn’t need us to be happy. God is Joy, Peace, Patience, Faith, etc. (those fruits of the Spirit are fruits of HIS Holy Spirit – they describe HIM!).

1Cor 12:4-5 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

God, He has a plan.

God is Sovereign. God is in control. In fact, if something is to go right at all, then God needs to be the one doing ALL the doing. If God IS doing all the doing, He’ll get it all done right on time!

Phil 1:6 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:

If God is using you, He will also instruct you on what to do, when to move, and when to stop that moving. God is the one who knows proper timing for all things under the sun.

So if God tells you to rest, then rest. If God tells you to stop, then stop. If God tells you to keep on going, keep on going. Let it be God who does the works:

Jn 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.

Brethren, if you are on the brink of exhaustion, indications are pretty good you are striving in your flesh. Do you not know exhaustion can bring on death? Attempted suicide is not in God’s plan, but it does show us all from time to time how our flesh can surely get away from us.

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Put God first in all things. Learn to listen for His instruction and know His Holy Word for yourself. If there is one good thing TO strive for, it is the very straight gate that lies in accordance with His Last Will and Testament. In other words, the New Testament.

Lk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

2Tim 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

One more thing to watch out for about Striving? It will quench the Spirit if gone unchecked.

Peace out!