My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power . . . —1 Corinthians 2:4

If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality. Take care to see while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, that you yourself are rooted and grounded by faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your presentation, but as you give your explanation make sure that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God’s redemptive power, and He will create His own life in people.

Once you are rooted in reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith. But nothing can ever change God or the reality of redemption. Base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God Himself. Once you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will never be moved again. That is the meaning of sanctification. God disapproves of our human efforts to cling to the concept that sanctification is merely an experience, while forgetting that even our sanctification must also be sanctified (see John 17:19). I must deliberately give my sanctified life to God for His service, so that He can use me as His hands and His feet.

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord. Sometimes I think I’m doing the right thing, the good thing and the Godly thing … but it doesn’t turn out so well. Is that because my effort at sanctification was just that … My effort?

You cannot will yourself sanctified or set apart or cleaned up. If you try, it will be the work of your flesh and won’t be filled with my power. If you wait for my sanctifying work to manifest in your life, it will be a joy to walk in the way that I direct. If you cook up your own ideas, you will get tired and stressed out. It’s a pretty good test of whether you are working with my power or your own. If you are stressed and tired … It’s not me. I give my servants rest, even in the hard times. Back up and get yourself re-calibrated with my love and sacrifice. Listen for my voice, then go again.
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