Stop Trying

I was checking out Chris Tomlin's website as I usually do.... and I came across a WONDERFUL devotion/writing what-have-you which you can read in its entirety here.

As I was reading about this crazy awesome experience Chris and the band had at the Passion Conference... (the devotion explains the bigger picture of what was goign on).... The article quotes one of Louie Giglio's talks... "Stop trying and Start dying."

Wow.

I've been listening a lot to Rob Bell's sermons from Mars Hill Bible Chapel lately. I download them here. And in one sermon he was talking about how people want to know what programs will his church will offer them. So he answered, "Well, we just have one main program, uhh, die. Yeah, like deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Jesus. That's pretty much the program we've been working since day one."

We can try to do all sorts of things in our own power, in our own strength, and in our own will.... but the point is - IT'S NOT ABOUT ME OR WHAT I CAN DO. It's about being more like Jesus - and less like us. John 3:30 tells us, "He must increase, I must decrease." HE MUST increase, YOU MUST decrease.

Stop trying and LET GOD HAVE CONTROL - give it to Him. I mean, it's all HIS anyway. And since HE made it all, don't you know He understands how it all works a lot better??!!?? Aren't you tired of trying to do your own thing and being dissatisfied with the outcome???

yeah?

So, maybe you should stop trying and start dying.