Whose Cross Will You Bear?

Your peace of heart and mind must not depend on your own obedience. You have not partially saved yourself.  It is as though you are willing to give the Lord most of the glory, but by keeping back a small portion of responsibility for your own salvation you also keep a portion of the glory for yourself.  It is a terrible burden.  You cannot bear the weight of the tiniest part of your own sin; you must cast it all upon Jesus. 

Do not confuse the nature of your cross.  If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24).  The burdens you are to bear come by God's hand, not yours.  You must decide whose cross you will carry: your own, or the cross the Lord has provided.  

Scripture:  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Release All

All the Scripture in the world—all of the words between the leather covers of your Bible—will not do you good if you do not put it into action. 

You cling to the last vestiges of yourself and your sin as though you were your own lifeline. Release all to the Lord, and all will be well.  

Scripture:  "Whoever serves me must follow me..." (John 12:26). 

He Will Not Disappoint

Leave off examining your heartache and stop describing the sins that have been done to you, not because your description is inaccurate, but because there is no fruit to be had in rehearsing the truth of how you were hurt.  

Let me tell you where to look for encouragement: look to obedience and its fruits!  Look to your own heart and stop worrying about the hearts of others, because, Child, so long as you wear this cloak of flesh you will be alone. You cannot obtain the communion and sustaining love you crave from other human beings. 


Human beings are always going to let you down, but you are going to be enabled to live quite happily in the midst of their failure to do what they ought to do for you because the Lord Himself is sustaining you. Your jar will not be empty and you will not lack bread, because He is your source of sustenance.

Do not make your happiness dependent on other people doing what they ought. Do what you ought and place all your hope in the Lord.  He will not disappoint you.

Scripture: "“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 31:16). 

Christ Within

Flesh and spirit are much like water and oil, incompatible in many ways. To give way to the flesh is to quench the Holy Spirit, but stray too far into the spiritual realm and the flesh loses contact with what is temporal.  And so the solution is to discipline the flesh, not ignore it; to honor the body rather than destroy it. Holy wisdom has taken up residence within the fragile vessel of your flesh. Remember Christ has indwelt you by His Spirit.  

Scripture:

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).