"Can Do Strength Or Pride?"

"..... for without me ye can do nothing."  John 15:5b

Children are famous for their "can do" attitude.  You know what I mean, they have an independent attitude.  They don't need your help, they can do it, they know what they are doing.  (All along we know they can't.)  You try to help them and they don't want your help.  They insist they know what they are doing and can do it.  So, what do you do?  You let them.  (At least you let them try.)  Sooner or later they realize that they can't do it and don't know it all.

As children of the Lord, we tend to do the same thing with Him.  We have a "can do" attitude.  We act like we can do it ourselves.  We act like we don't need His help.  We act like we can manage on our own.  We act like we have it all figured out.  Then we later discover that we don't.  But if we are insistent that we "can do it", just like us as parents, He will step aside and let us try it for ourselves.   

While a "can do" attitude can be applauded in many areas, it isn't when it comes to dealing with the Lord.  He doesn't call it a "can do" attitude or see it as a strength of character.  He calls it "pride".  He calls it arrogance and a haughty spirit.  It is not a strength of character.  It is independence from Him. 

I said earlier that just like we step back and let children discover on their own that they can't do, or know, everything, the Lord will step back too.  He does this because He loves you.  This is a chastening method of the Lord.  (Whom He loves He chastens.)  In His stepping back, you will discover that you can't do it because you will fall and fail at your attempt.  (Pride goes before destruction.)  When He steps back and lets you do it on your own, pride will cause you to fall.  Failure will cause you to repent and acknowledge your dependency on the Lord. 

We can't do it/anything without Him.  Are you trying to?  Do you think you can?  Do you really think you are wiser and stronger than He is?  If so, you don't have a "can do" mentality, or  strength of character, you have a "pride" problem.  Repent and confess your dependency on Him.

Have a great day.  If you think you can do it without the Lord, you have a pride problem.