Here’s something we can both agree on: God’s gift of salvation is exceptional. Nothing the world offers matches the Lord’s grace, love, forgiveness, and redemption. Remember, He placed us in Christ and anointed our souls with the Holy Spirit (John 17: 20-26). This incredible experience separates us from unbelievers.

With that said, it’s easy for me to use my strength to resolve problems reserved for Christ’s intervention. In God’s kingdom, the fruitlessness of self-sufficiency is clear. Sometimes this happens unintentionally, and other times it results from spiritual over-confidence. Either scenario doesn’t illustrate trust in God.

The Uselessness of Self-Sufficiency

In the first place, dependence on ourselves isn’t wise. God’s truth exposes the uselessness of self-sufficiency. The Bible proves that individual confidence doesn’t bear spiritual fruit. Both Testaments affirm God’s wisdom on why self-will doesn’t fit inside His kingdom.

Many scriptures point out the inefficacy of self-determination. They give specific examples of humanity’s fallen stasis with devastating eternal consequences. Every book outlines faith.

I can almost hear you thinking, why can’t we use spiritual knowledge to fix problems? Here’s the main issue Christian insight has limitations. Awareness of Jesus is one thing, but tapping into His supernatural power requires a personal commitment. It means casting aside individuality and asking Him for help under every circumstance. Once we rely on Him, we find God’s wisdom.

With this in mind, let’s look at behavior associated with fixing problems reserved for Christ’s resolution. 

Let’s begin with pride. Yes, this five-letter word prevents us from finding long-lasting solutions. God detests those who go it alone and refuse His blueprint for salvation. When we’re determined to do it our way, we disrespect Christ. In reality, self-reliance is a sin. You may disagree, yet God says otherwise (James 4:6).

When I use self-will, it stops me from receiving the Holy Spirit’s revelation. Here, pride takes over, and my faith weakens. Frustration sets in, and anger raises its ugly head. My lack of self-satisfaction caused uneasiness at that point, and I realized that leaving Christ out caused this turmoil.

Here’s the bottom line. Using my will always spiral out of control. It affects my heart and soul. The problem I tried fixing created other difficulties. And my family, friends, and coworkers bear witness to my sinfulness.

Taking matters into my own hands doesn’t sit right with God. How do I know? I experience a restless spirit where my agitated conscious causes internal anguish. Believe it’s uncomfortable and unnecessary.

God’s Indisputable Consciousness  

How do we distinguish between doing things our way versus a Spirit-filled life?

A clue that we’re using our strength instead of Christ’s power is a lack of God’s thoughts (Joshua 1:8). A mind void of God’s reality opens the door to problems. Indeed, a meditation on scripture restrains self-will and leads to God’s wisdom. It’s an excellent guard against the devil’s cunning mental attacks because Satan tries his best to corrupt our minds.

You’ll agree with me when I say personal knowledge doesn’t equal Christ’s wisdom. Instead, it blocks spiritual intuition, preventing one from receiving the Holy Spirit’s guidance. One of the tremendous benefits of salvation is a conscious awareness of God’s presence. This emotional bond creates a wave of inner peace and embraces us of the Holy Spirit’s undeniable consciousness.

This interconnection is an overwhelming divine encounter, leaving no doubt that Christ is working inside our hearts and spirits. This kinship isn’t by accident but a designed internalization of His existence. It’s an incredible personal oneness with God.

What does God working in our lives mean?

It implies doing the Lord’s will. I need to develop a Christ-like image and exemplify holy morals. Spiritual life is an active Christian demonstration of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Other vital ingredients are goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Those spiritual principles imitate Jesus’ teachings and depict Christ-centered life.

Here’s why that’s important.

The most extraordinary foundation of salvation is love. First, our love for God needs to rise above everything. And loving our neighbors is a commandment held high in Christ’s eyes (Matthew 22:37-39). Both of them show God’s internal and external works.

Loving people is challenging. Expressing affection to those we admire isn’t hard. But those people we dislike or despise take more effort. Here, using our strength becomes useless because we can’t love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

Without God working in my heart, loving those I detest becomes troublesome. My heart hardens, and I risk copping resentments, hate, and other sinful reactions. Humanity fell from God’s grace (Genesis:3) and lost the ability to love. But through faith in Christ, God restores my ability to love.

Conclusion

I’ve shared a few examples of trusting God. Many others are waiting for your investigation. As seen, God’s rewards for faithful followers are profound and exceptional. Please don’t take my word for it. Find out for yourself. It’s incredible living for Christ, and I hope you find this truth. Until next time, peace be with you, my friend.