Last week I celebrated my 72nd birthday. Now that’s not really old by many standards, but it’s definitely older than I’ve ever been! As some of you may know, I’ve also been struggling with the results of a heart condition known as atrial fibrillation – a fancy medical term for a rapid and irregular heartbeat. It’s not serious if dealt with, but as the treatment process unfolds over several months, I have found that between the results of the condition itself and the prescribed meds, I am extremely weak, short of breath, and have very little energy, even for normally light tasks. There are more times in the day than I care to admit when my response to previously easy chores is to cry out, “I just can’t do it!” There are more times in the day than I care to admit when my response to previously easy chores is to cry out, “I just can’t do it!” As Jesus said of the disciples in Gethsemane, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” Now, throughout this season I’ve had lots of time to meditate on Scripture, pray, and think about my spiritual walk and prayer life. I definitely can see some parallels between my current physical condition and my spiritual one. There is a weakness in the flesh that becomes more apparent the closer I come to the Lord. Paul describes life attempted in the strength of the flesh in the latter portion of Romans 7.
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. Romans 7:18 ESV
Let me ask you a personal question – is your prayer life a bit like that? “I want to pray more, I want to get up earlier to spend time with the Lord, I want to go to the revival prayer meeting our church has started, but somehow, I just can’t do it. I can’t get there! I try to pray for an hour but, somehow . . . ”
Our church, St. George’s, Burlington, is in the midst of a Sunday sermon series on the Book of Judges. Naturally, we have been struck by the narrative of Gideon whom God raised up to deliver Israel from a vast army of neighbouring nations who had allied themselves against God’s people. God never intends us to do what he asks us to do in our own strength – in the strength of the flesh! A classic spiritual principle is depicted so inescapably clearly in Gideon’s story in Judges 6 and 7 – God never intends us to do what he asks us to do in our own strength – in the strength of the flesh! In the case of Gideon, God made it abundantly obvious by sending home the vast majority of Gideon’s army lest there be any temptation to take the glory and credit for the ensuing victory. Gideon could so easily have said, “I can’t do this!” and God would have said, “I know! I’m glad you’re finally catching on!”
During one of my lowest times of my struggle with this heart condition and weakness, the Lord used a familiar and favourite Psalm to remind me once again of who it is that provides the strength to win victories. Let me share some of the gems from Psalm 18 that spoke to my discouraged heart:
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
verse 2
The first thing that this passage does is remind us of God’s great protection for us in a variety of colourful images; rock, fortress, refuge, shield, horn, stronghold. There is no need for attempts at self-protection. They are futile anyway.
He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
verses 16 – 19
Even when the odds are ridiculously stacked against us… the Lord rescues and delivers us
Even when the odds are ridiculously stacked against us, as they were in Gideon’s situation, the Lord rescues and delivers us from strong enemies who are too mighty for us to deal with in our fleshly strength. How glorious is this thought when it finally gets through to us!
For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
verses 28 – 29
For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.
verses 31 – 36
Now look at the ways that the Lord’s provision supplies all that David needs:
- the Lord is the source of light for his lamp, enlightening his darkness
- with the Lord enabling him, he can run against a whole troop of soldiers or leap over a wall
- the Lord equips him with supernatural strength and righteous integrity
- the Lord guides his feet with dexterity, setting him in a secure vantage point
- the Lord skilfully trains him so that he has the strength to bend a bow of bronze
- the Lord has provided David with the shield of his salvation and he is supported by the very right hand of God.
- the gentleness of God made David a great king, and he keeps his feet from slipping
What an amazing array of provision that God has for David with whom he enjoys such an intimate relationship and whom he calls “a man after his own heart”! God called David to be a shepherd, a warrior, and then Israel’s greatest king, and he gave him everything that he needed to fulfill his calling. There was no reason for David ever to say, “I just can’t do it”. And it is no different for us in our walk with God and in our daily prayer life. What is way too hard for us is never too hard for the Lord! The apostle Paul, in his succinct, very non-poetic way, expressed this principle like this:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESVAnd my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 ESV
Understanding God’s desire for us to be solely dependent on him has implications in every aspect of our Christian life as we learn to trust him no matter how difficult the situation we’re facing may be. But perhaps you’ve never considered our need to be solely dependent on him in our prayer life as well. We may say, “Well, surely that’s the part that we do, right?” And yet, in this time of more extreme physical weakness than I have ever experienced before, I’m learning that even in prayer I need Jesus more and more. I’m learning to relax, to be at peace in his presence, not having to accomplish anything in my own strength and resources but to let him direct my conversation with him along the lines that are pleasing and important to him. And, you know, it takes the pressure off. I can do it, in him.
