Philippians 4:13 English Standard Version (ESV) I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

This is absolutely true.

John 5:30 English Standard Version (ESV) I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

This is true also.

In the first case it is Paul that is speaking to those things that he is doing. In the second case Jesus is speaking of the things He is doing.

What Paul did not say that should be a given is that Paul was sent. We have a tendency to forget after some time that comments about what servants of God are doing are direct answers to being sent to do the will of the Father. In this regard we are no different than Jesus. We should not do anything on our own.

The reason I say this is because humans can get so inspired that we can get caught up in the act of doing. It feels good to be doing good. We can get so caught up in the doing that we forget that this is first and foremost a relationship.

Jesus said it by saying He sought the Father’s will. How He knew the Father’s will was in communion with the Father. He checked in nightly with the Father, alone. Then He would come back to minister to mankind.

Galatians 2:2 English Standard Version (ESV) I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.

Even Paul, our most prolific epistle writer, admits that he got so busy in doing that he had to check in to be sure he was still on track. He was sent a revelation which caused him to check in with others that were servants of Christ. What that revelation was exactly we may never know but knowing God as I do, it was with purpose.

Here is another way to say it in common terms, “when in doubt shout!”

Another way of saying all this is, “do not get so confident in what you are doing that you do not check back in with your instructor.”

1 Peter 5:8-10 English Standard Version

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

What have I experienced that might be of use to someone?

In these verses is one word in which I pray will offer help to some reader somewhere. That word is confirm.

There was a time in my earlier training that I was part of a ministry team that stood before the congregation to offer help. Being the newest member of the team I found myself without anyone that chose to come to me. Long lines formed in front of the others. People were willing to wait to be ministered to by the ones they had confidence in as servants of the Lord. I was an untested resource.

Then one day, a man in pain was desperate enough to get out of the long line and come to me, who had no one before me. He told me of his pain. I laid hands on him and the Holy Spirit moved in power and healed him immediately.

Was I gifted with the power to heal? No. Did this man deserve to be healed more than the others? No.

What happened was the Lord used an opportunity to confirm in me that Christ could and would use me if I made myself available in whatever manner He should so choose.

If anyone out there feels the way I felt, unused and unwanted, do not lose heart. Do not give up because the Lord is the one who restores, confirms, strengthens and establishes.

Just keep making yourself available.