October 1 - What I Can't Do By Myself

Today's Reading: 
Exodus 10:1-12:13
Luke 14:7-35
Psalm 19:1-6 
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Focus Verses: 
Luke 14:28-33 
28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Insight:
Until a person is wise enough to see that he doesn't have what it takes to build the life he needs, he won't turn to Christ. Until a person recognizes that she doesn't have the resources to withstand the attacks and struggles of life, she won't turn to Christ. The wisdom to acknowledge limitations and needs is what moves us to turn away from ourselves and, instead, to reach out to Christ Jesus.

Response and Action:
I give up on being self-made. I have no faith in my ability to build my own life. I do, however, believe in Jesus. I am looking to him for the direction, purpose, and resources I need to find and build my life. I give up on defending myself from the challenges and adversaries that threaten to ruin me. I am depending on Jesus to defend and sustain me. Life is too big for me, but it is not too big for God. I am ready to be a disciple of Jesus because I have given up on me.

O God, thank you for Christ Jesus and his invitation to follow him. Give me the wisdom to hear and respond to his call with all my heart. Help me to see the wisdom of recognizing my limitations and my inability to build or sustain my life without him. Help me to find my life, my purpose, my joy, my strength, my very self in Christ. Amen.

 Spiritual Formation Verses: Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Resources:
Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
by Dallas Willard