By My Spirit
June 1, 2009
by Maria Simone
Sometimes I find myself getting frustrated when I don’t see God answering the prayers that I know He has promised to answer. These can be prayers for people that He’s placed in my life to plant seeds of salvation, or prayers for myself to overcome my own weaknesses. Recently, the Lord allowed me to witness the beauty of a friend coming to salvation in Christ, something other friends and I have been praying about for quite a while now. We had shared the gospel with this friend several times over the last year without any response from her. It seemed in many ways that we had said so much and shared Jesus so much, that I was beginning to wonder if she would ever understand. Then, one glorious day, the Lord Himself opened her eyes in an unexpected way. He took all the seeds that were planted over the year and, in an instant, brought her to a saving knowledge of Himself. I was in awe of the radical transformation that occurred seemingly right before my eyes. Through this experience, the Lord reminded me that indeed, just as Zechariah 4:6 says, we see the fruit of our prayers “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts”.
The Book of John reminds us of our rightful place in God’s plan. Referring to John the Baptist, John 1:8-9 says “John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The One who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” John himself was not the Light, and neither are we. We are simply witnesses to tell about the Light. When I find myself getting frustrated with a situation or person that won’t seem to change, I must remind myself that I am not their Light, nor am I their Savior. There is only One qualified to fill those shoes, and His name is Jesus. He alone will change and transform in His perfect timing, by the power of His Spirit.
No human effort, no striving, and no will power will produce the fruit that we long to see in ourselves and others. It is only by God’s Spirit that hearts and minds can be changed, and lives transformed. We must certainly be obedient to plant the seeds and do what the Lord has called us to do, but that is where our responsibility ends. We pray and plant the seeds, God alone brings the fruit. We are the vessel, the conduit – powerless in ourselves – yet God has chosen us as His co-workers and fills us with great joy as He works through us.
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