For me I realize that I can do a lot in my own strength, but it is in vain. Paul says for me to live is Christ to die is gain. I struggle with this a little, especially in the area of trying to know God’s will for me, and if I’m living in His will. I think I’m realizing a little more each day that in order for Christ to work through me I have to get myself out of the way. One of my favorite quotes from Jerry Benjamin was his great definition of true humility, “Humility is not thinking less of oneself, but it is no thought of oneself.” I think that this definition is on par, especially when it comes to the Christian life, for Christ to work through us there needs to be a mindset of selflessness, because Christ is the one doing the work not us. In the Christian life everything is about Christ. Romans 11:36 “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” I really like this passage because the Christian life is not about us, it’s about Him. And if we think it’s about us we deceive ourselves. Before coming to Ravencrest I always wondered what I was doing wrong in my faith and what I could do to get closer to God, because I felt super distant and felt like God was super quiet. I’m realizing since I’ve been here that there was and is nothing I can or could ever do, because it’s not about me! As mentioned earlier, “all things” are through Him and of Him and for Him. God is not an equation, He is not some formula that we have to experiment with our lives and tweak it until we “get it right.” I am so thankful to God for the truth He has shown me since I’ve been here. How simple the Christian faith is, we don’t have to, nor should we “do” anything because we can’t. We can’t do anything worth anything in our own strength, Christ has to be doing the work through us. Christ is the one who works through our lives through the Holy Spirit that dwells in all who put their trust in Him.
Student Testimony: Dan (2019-2020)
