This is from the book God Works The Night Shift by Ron Mehl
When you think about it, no one comes to salvation until he or she admits to being a hopeless sinner, completely lost, and unable to lift one finger in his or her own help or defense. It’s at that very point that God offers His blinding, shining righteousness in exchange for our sin and shame. How could we believe it would be any different as we live out our life in Him? How could we turn back to our self-sufficiency?
Are you foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
I suppose it is true of all preachers that as we grow older our sense of the inefficiency of our work becomes intensified. The wonder grows that God can accomplish so much with such inadequate implements. One’s satisfaction with the Evangel deepens with the years; but one is increasingly discontented with the imperfect way in which we present it. No, I do not write as one who is proficient. I am only a blunderer at best; but I write as one who is honestly desirous of better and more useful equipment.
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4 (KJV)
This is from the book Joy in Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon
“Somebody!” I do not know your name, but “Somebody!” –God’s electing love rests on you; Christ’s redeeming blood was shed for you; and the Spirit has brought about a work in you, or you would not have touched Jesus. Jesus knows all of this.
He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean.
This is from the book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney
That’s the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines. The desire and the power for them are produced by the grace of God. But Christians themselves must practice the Disciplines. For example, a deep, insatiable hunger for the Bible is a gift from God, but we are the ones who must turn the pages and read the words. God doesn’t pull our passive bodies over to the desk and cause our hands to open the Bible and draw our eyes back and forth over the pages without any effort on our part.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When we are focused on loving Christ, it doesn’t mean we do less. I used to do many of the same things I do now, but I was motivated by guilt or fear of consequences. When we work for Christ out of obligation, it feels like work. But when we truly love Christ, our work is a manifestation of that love, and it feels like love.
In reality, not one of us will ever be worthy. It is useless to attempt earning it; you will never feel ready. It is unknown and uncomfortable. But there really is a God who forgives everything and loves endlessly.
Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.