The New Life

The Nev7 Life.
through the Spirit, but fall unconsciously into a life
in which they endeavor to overcome sin and be holy
through their own exertion, through doing their best.
They ask God to help them in these their endeavors,
and think that this is faith. They do not understand
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what it is to say : In me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth
no good thing," and that therefore they are to
cease from their own endeavors, in order to do God's
will, wholly and only through the Spirit.^
Child of God, pray, learn what it is to say of yourself,
just as you are, even after the new birth : "I am
carnal, sold under sin." Endeavor no longer to be
doing your best, and to be praying to God, and to be
trusting Him to help you. No : learn to say : "The
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free
from the law of sin and of death." Let your work
every day be to have the Spirit work in you, to walk
by the Spirit, and you shall be redeemed from the
life of complaining, ** the good that I would 1 do
not," into a life of faith, in which it is God that
worketh in you both to will and to do.
Lord God, teach me to acknowledge with all my
heart that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth
nothing good. Teach me also to cease from every
thought, as if I could, with my own endeavors, serve
or please Thee. Teach me to understand that the
Spirit is the Comforter, who frees me from all anxiety
and fear
about my own powerlessness, in order that
He may work the strength of Christ in me. Amen.
1 Rom. vii. i8 ; Gal. iii. 3, iv. 9, v. 4, 7.
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