Psalm 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.

This whole psalm is a magnificent example of both why David was a man after God’s heart and why he was so successful: he gave God the credit for his every success. From his youth all the way to when in his old age he was collecting resources for Solomon to be able to build the temple, David was amazed at what God accomplished through him. He was a confident, assured leader, most of the time, but his confidence was in God and not in himself. He knew that he could do some pretty awesome things, but he didn’t give himself credit for them. Rather, he gave all the glory to God. Sadly, such an attitude is all too rare, even in the Church. When believers, not to mention leaders, can come to this position in truth, there is no limit to what God can do through them.

I can’t say that I’ve walked in this attitude very consistently. I have tended rather to the opposite side of looking at the abilities God has given me and expecting to be able to do things myself. There’s a fine line between being self assured and being God assured, and I haven’t stayed on the right side of that. That’s not to say I’m not to exercise the abilities I know God has given me, but it is to say that I must recognize and acknowledge that those abilities are from Him and not from me, and give Him the glory. I’m not to be surprised when God accomplishes something through me, but I am certainly to be grateful. As a pastor, I need to foster in the believers the expectation that God will use them. This is a difficult thing in Japan, where people are taught not to put themselves forward, but rather be self deprecating. However, nothing is impossible for God! I have demonstrated time and time again that I can’t change people in my own wisdom and strength, but I need to be assured that God can do it, and that He can even use me in the process. I need to seek Him at every turn, not doing things out of habit or in presumption, but allowing Him to speak and act through me, so that the results may be His magnificence and not my junk.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You are doing in and among us in these days. Thank You for the immediate goals You’ve shown Cathy and me, in terms of church culture. Thank You for Your clear presence and guidance through the day yesterday. I pray that what You spoke through me would continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of all who heard, so that together we may be transformed into the image of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!