People often say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle”. When I was going through a difficult time in my life, I would almost brag about that quote. I would say, “Boy, God must think I am really strong, because He keeps dumping more and more on me!” I did that for a few years.
Then, one weekend, I attended a Christian conference. The speaker explained that in her research, when Scripture says that God resists the proud, it means He resists as with full armor. He gives grace to the humble hearted. I thought to myself, I want to draw closer to God, I certainly don’t want Him to resist me with full armor! I want to be humble hearted, not proud.
Soon after the conference, I realized that it wasn’t that God thought I was so strong, it was that He knew I was too proud. Scriptures describe God's attitude toward the proud. James 4:6, "But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, "God opposes the proud and but shows favor to the humble." (NIV) And 1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." (NIV)
I love the way God plants the seeds (like me going to the conference and hearing about God resisting the proud) and then the Holy Spirit makes it real to you. What Jesus said is true. Paraphrased: I will go away and ask my Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with you, to lead you in all the truth, to be your counselor and your guide. Your comforter, your teacher. He will empower you to live the Christian life, a life of love. Follow Me.
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