My Strength

A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to open a meeting in prayer. That is not a strange occurrence for someone who works in pastoral ministries. I have probably opened hundreds of meetings in prayer. What made this one stand out was that I was to be praying on stage in front of 3000 people. That is by far the largest crowd I have ever addressed. As the clock counted down to “prayer time”, I found myself praying continuously and intently: that God would be with me, that I would use his words, that I wouldn’t fall on my face.

It suddenly struck me that on most occasions, I didn’t pray this much before I opened a meeting in prayer. Why not? Were the other meetings not important? Did I not need God’s guidance for them? It really came down to the question of:

“What is the maximum number of people I can address on my strength?”

Of course I know the answer is a big fat zero.

“Apart from me you can do nothing” – Jesus (John 15:5b)

Now I would never say, or even consciously think that I can address a group of people without God’s help but I often act as if I can.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” Psalm 127:1

My experience speaking before the large crowd emphasized this for me. Even though I attest that I need God and that I want him to act, I still do things mostly on my own strength. Here is an example that may hit closer to home. I think about the amount of time I spent praying before my first day of this job. I asked God to work through me in everything I did. In my relationships with my co-workers and with those I serve. How much do I pray now before an average day?

That is our natural tendency. When we go into a new situation or things are out of the ordinary we realize we need God. When things are typical or even mundane, we tend to rely on our own strength.

As I have had the privilege of meeting our great staff that work in group homes in Ontario, I am constantly telling them that the best thing they can bring to work everyday is Christ. “Apart from Him we can do nothing.”

We will not be able to serve Him unless we listen to Him and rely on Him.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Mark Wallace