The goal of the believer is success, not failure. The path of victory is in God’s Grace, which is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9); and in God’s Power, which is a must to perform, to be an overcomer (1 John 5:4).

The believer is to walk even as Christ walked (1 John 2:6); and when the believer does this, then His Love is perfected in the believer. However, the believer must walk in Christ, in His Power; and then he can do all things (Philippians 4:13). But without submission to Christ, and a complete dependence upon Him; in his own strength, the believer is sure to fall short of the mark (2 Corinthians 3:5).

The believer is a work-in-progress. He is daily learning of his sanctification in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). But the experience of sanctification is progressive, as the believer takes hold of the great and precious promises given unto him, to come to more knowledge of the Divine Nature of God in him, and to bear more and more fruit:

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3)

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)

As the believer learns to lean on Christ and His Power more and more; the greater is his growth and maturity in Christ; and then his journey is one of success in the spirit man. (See Proverbs 3:5-6; Joshua 1:8.)

It is the prayer of the writer of these devotions, that the believer be stirred more and more to cry out to God and say: “Make me,” mold me, train me, teach me, empower me to perform Your Will and to walk even as Christ walked (1 John 2:4-6). Cause me to “talk (or speak, both in words and in deeds) of thy wondrous works.”  In other words, cause me to be a witness of the Testimony of Jesus Christ; who is the Sacrifice for sin, the Substitute for sinners, and the Savior of His Sheep. Cause me to be a proclaimer of the Saving and Sustaining Grace of God. Cause me to be a disciple (a follower) of Jesus Christ.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15)

Cause me to delight in His Will. Cause me to be a “doer” of His Word. Cause me to have “joy” in my spirit as I walk in His love to Him and to others.

Christ, without You, I have no understanding of Thy Word and of Thy Will. Christ, without You, I have no power to perform Your Word. Christ, without You living in me, I have no joy in Thy Word.

So Christ, “make me to understand”; then I will “talk.” “Make me to go”; then I will “delight.”