“…boast in Christ Jesus, and place no trust in the flesh.”
— Philippians 3:3

The Apostle Paul said he could endure all circumstances, good or bad, because the Lord strengthened him though it all. Through Christ, he could do all things. I want you to notice what Paul is not talking about—PMA, a modern term for “Positive Mental Attitude,” also described as “positive thinking.” There is a great difference between positive thinking and what Paul is talking about. Note what Paul did not say: “I can do all things through PMA.” One man thought he had seen a sign in an office that said, “I can do all things through coffee and donuts.” Not quite.

Let me point out to you that PMA, positive thinking, has many good things about it. It helps people to do a lot of things, but it only goes so far and then it fails because it is really a sin. That I am sure grabs some of you the wrong way. A sin? Yes. The Bible says, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart departs from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5). To paraphrase: “Cursed is he that trusts in self.”

Furthermore, it is really nothing other than trusting in self for your salvation. Paul did not say, “I can do all things because I have complete confidence in myself.” Rather, it was Christ who strengthened him. What counts is not positive thinking— it is Christ-thinking—resting upon His strength and not on our own. Then there is no limit to what that can do.

Dear Jesus, forgive me for trusting in me. Forgive me for short-circuiting Your power in my life through unbelief. Give me strength for today to truly trust in You…

BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN RELY
ON HIM AND NOT OURSELVES.