Conscious of my own Weakness

The loss of all confidence in one's self is the first essential in the believer's growth in grace. The Christian, conscious of his own frailty, will turn to the Lord for strength. "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak--then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

There must be consciousness of our weakness before we will turn to the Lord for help. While the Christian imagines that he is sufficient in himself, while he imagines that by the mere force of his will that he can resist temptation, while he has any confidence in the flesh--then, like 'boasting Peter'--he will certainly fail and fall. The plain fact is that, of ourselves, we are utterly unable to practice a single precept or obey a single command that is set before us in the Scriptures! Apart from Christ, we can do nothing! (John 15:5). The promise of God is, "He gives power to the faint; and strengthens the powerless!" Isaiah 40:29 The secret of developing of Christian character is the realization of our own powerlessness, and the consequent turning to the Lord for help continually. A consciousness of our powerlessness should cast us upon Him who has all power.

- A. W. Pink