Watch the vid below by Steve Mcvey, Christian Religion Lie #52 “We Should Pray To Be Stronger So God Can Use Us“ and my comments follow…
This is another lie that SOUNDS good… till you really look at it closely and compare it with scripture.
People want more strength for themselves
People pray this prayer often because they want more strength for THEMSELVES to DO MORE for God.
The truth is, we don’t need more “strength” to serve God — in fact, as Steve McVey says, “most of us are already too strong”.
Instead we need to recognize our own weakness… recognize our own inability to live the Christian life… and accept through faith that Christ is capable enough (and faithful enough) to live it THROUGH us.
God told the apostle Paul in 2 Cor 12:9 (NIV, emphasis mine):
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.“”
What did Paul know that you don’t?
Let’s consider this for a moment. Paul was a pharisee before His conversion to Christ… He was raised to be a religious zealot… and is argueably the most influental Christian to EVER live…
Yet, what did God tell Paul?
Did God tell Paul — “you’re doing a good job already, now if you pray for me to give you more strength, to help you more, I’ll give you more strength to continue living a great Christian life!”
NO!
God told Paul that His grace was sufficient for Paul and that “My power is made perfect in weakness”.
Paul lived the Christian life by being weak
Paul was obedient and continues in this same verse to say…
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Paul understood that living a great Christian life wasn’t about asking the God for more strength so you can do it on your own… No.
Paul understood that amazing, authentic Christianity is realizing our weakness and embracing it — so that Christ is more FULLY revealed THROUGH us each and every day… moment by moment.
We want people to see Christ when they look at us, NOT us.
Is your life a good advertisement… for… Christ?
I write advertisements and marketing materials for a living. Now the purpose of a direct response advertisement is to sell a product… the vessel this sale comes through is my writing.
Now, some writers like to write elegantly, use fluffy words and try to dazzle the reader with how clever their writing is. But they don’t make as many sales!
Why?
Because a good advertisement showcases the product being advertised… its only job is to get the SALE… and if someone is distracted by the “strength” of your writing… the cleverness of your words… then they aren’t focusing on the product for sale and they won’t build up the desire to buy the product.
(do you see where I’m going here?)
A good advertisement is written in such a way that you forget you’re reading it… all you can think about is how great the product is and how much you want to order it… you dont’ even notice the “strength” of the writing.
People should forget they’re seeing us and instead see Christ!
So instead of asking for more strength for ourselves (which will only take the attention off Christ) let us instead embrace our weakness so that Christ is more fully revealed through us each and every day… like the apostle Paul… and like a good “typing salesman”.
With Love 
Caleb
{ 0 comments… add one now }