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How am I seeking my own independence apart from God?  Genesis 11:1-9 provides us a clear example from history of men trying to do this very thing: “children of man” attempting to make a name for themselves through building a tower that reaches to heaven.  Then, in sheer irony, God comes down from heaven and stops the building process altogether by confusing their languages.  Though we today are thousands of years removed from this event, the heart of man still responds the same way as those at Babel: “I don’t need God!”

I think I can safely say that no one in our church family is trying to build a skyscraper as a way to claim superiority over God!  Yet I can also say definitively that all our hearts cry out “I don’t need God” in more subtle ways.  For me, a prime example actually occurred while I was writing this AAT!  I started by thinking about what part of Pastor’s message I should focus on, and then I spent considerable time thinking how best to articulate my thoughts; however, when I started to write, my mind was coming up blank, which made me feel frustrated.  I then decided to pray, and it was in that moment I came to a point of realization.  Up to that point, I was focused on how I could create the best structure for the blog post and how I could write the most succinct sentences that would stick in people’s minds (making a name for myself).  I should have begun by praying, asking God to give me wisdom (James 1:5-6) on what to write.

Taking Alex’s thoughts of moving from theory to practice (if you have not read the last two AATs, I highly encourage you do!), here are some considerations:

  1. As you read God’s Word and come across passages where sin is mentioned or described, ask yourself “How is my heart tempted to respond similarly?”
  2. Strive to grow in humility. One of the greatest ways to become humble is by praying, which naturally causes you to realize and express your need for God. Even pray and ask God to make you more aware of your heart’s natural desire for self-reliance!
  3. Related to prayer, understand the importance of daily, hourly, even minute-by-minute confession of sin (1 John 1:9). When you inevitably find yourself craving self-security, self-reliance, and self-expression, confess it to the Lord in humble repentance.

In the previous months, Pastor has emphasized that our church develop a particular culture; it is my desire and prayer that we as a church family continually grow together in developing a culture of dependence upon God!