The Only Way to Be Successful

I was so discouraged. I had written for days and most of the pages ended up in the trash can. I didn't know how to write but I knew God had called me to write.

One day when I was in despair, I read 2 Corinthians 2:14: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ." God said, “You can have that.” That verse changed my attitude toward writing. I was able to trust that although my writing still often had to be discarded, God was using the process to lead me in triumph.

That day over 35 years ago, I began the habit of sitting down at the computer saying, "God, I'm not here because I think I can write. I'm here to give You an opportunity to lead me in triumphal procession." What a relief this writing by faith was.

God has qualified us to do exactly what He wants us to do, but He wants us to have some area—often the crucial part of the ministry—in which we say, “Lord, I simply cannot do this without You. Do Your work through me.”

When He is leading us to do the “impossible,” we don't say, “But Lord, I can’t!” Instead, with our eyes focused on Christ, we trust Him to give us the ideas of what to do. Then we proceed believing that He is guiding us and will use our efforts.

Oswald Chambers said, “The moment we recognize our complete weakness and our dependence upon Him will be the very moment that the Spirit of God will exhibit His power.”

Paul’s words to Timothy is one of my life verses: “God’s work—which is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:4). As Samuel Chadwick said, “The only thing in the world God has ever asked a man to do is to trust Him.”

Thank You, dear Father, for never failing to do Your work through those who trust You. Help us to recognize when we’re depending upon ourselves to do what only You can do.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).