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Day 6: “I Can Do This on My Own.”

Welcome to day 6, where we’re talking about our need for the help of God and others.

Take time to read through John 15:5-6. Jesus is telling us that if we do not remain in Him, we will be fruitless and cast into the fire. We must realize that our fruitfulness is entirely dependent upon our connection with God. When we try to operate in our own power, we will be fruitless, ineffective failures.

We also need to be sure that God is our number one focus and priority in life—always. The story of Abraham and Isaac demonstrates this principle. God had promised the old man and Sarah a son and that through this son, He would bless the whole world. After twenty-five years of waiting, they finally had their little boy. As Abraham watched his son grow up, the child was precious to him—too precious. The promised son gradually crowded God out of the center of Abraham’s heart. Isaac had become an idol. To remedy the problem, God gave a stunning order: “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you” (Genesis 22:2).

I can imagine Abraham thinking, What? You’ve gotta be kidding! No way. God, You gave me this child. He’s the son You promised and the one who will be a blessing to the whole world! But Abraham didn’t argue with God. He took his son on the journey to the mountain, tied him to the stone altar, and raised his knife to sacrifice him as God commanded. At that moment, the angel of the Lord appeared and stopped him. He told the old (and undoubtedly relieved) man, “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12).

God needed to address the idolatry in Abraham’s heart, and half-measures wouldn’t do. He asked the old man to surrender the very thing he cherished too much.

Find a quiet place and ask yourself, “Am I pursuing God more passionately than anything else, including God’s work?” A second question is just as important: “Have I empowered people to speak into my life?” It’s time to stop being defensive—either because we feel superior or inferior. God has put some people in our lives to speak the truth to us . . . if we’ll only listen. Being honest with God is sometimes exhilarating, but sometimes it’s painful. Even if it’s painful, take His message to heart. It’s worth it.