NOT THE POST I WAS GOING TO DO

I was going to post about Disney and include some fun pics...but life happens and the inspiration to write about it comes over me this morning. The temptation to indulge in self-pity is strong in this melancholy soul of mine. I come to the end of myself and think there's nothing else to give. Well, the compassion and patience that had been flowing through me didn't come from myself anyway. So why would I go back to the broken cistern of my flesh after allowing His life to flow through me? His fountain of grace is inexhaustible. His mercies are new every morning. No matter what I'm facing or tempted to worry myself about, His strength and power are always a prayer away.

This morning a song by Michael Card greatly encouraged me and reminded me of the power of self-denial. Twelve years ago he released a recording called poiema. The second song is an incredibly insightful testimony to the "impoverished power" of humility.

The Basin and the Towel

And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility to take the vow
That day after day we must take up
The basin and the towel

And the space between ourselves sometimes
Is more than the distance between the stars
By the fragile bridge of the servant's bow
We take up the basin and the towel.

There is an unusual power that comes when we deny ourselves. When I reject the invitation to my own personal pity party that comes from my flesh and the enemy where do I go? The opposite invitation is to hide myself in Him, to live the truth of Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6 - have died with Him, been buried with Him and raised to new life. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. His power and grace is without end. There is power in humility. Self-pity is weak and ends only in futility and depression. Oh, that I would turn my eyes away from that dark pit and fix my eyes on my Lord who is my rock and my source of strength, grace and Life.