Abba,

I cannot do this.  I cannot do it at all.  YOU must do it within me.  I cannot die to myself.  I cannot take up my cross.  I cannot deny myself.  I cannot be patient and forbearing in light of injustices against me.  I cannot be forgiving.  I cannot walk in Your Spirit.  

Not in my own strength or power.  Not alone.

Spirit, I need You.  DESPERATELY, I need You.  I need You to come and work Your will and way in me.  

I feel weak.  Needy.  Insecure.  Unsure.  I feel weary and worn, tired, and lonely.  And it is because I am.  

YOU must do this within me, Abba. Spirit.  YOU must work Your way in me.  YOU must help me to walk in righteous truth.  YOU must help do it.  The fruit of a righteous life is fruit that is produced by YOU, not by me.  The fruit of the SPIRIT is….

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness 

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

These are not manufactured by me.  They are produced by YOU as You work Your way within me, Spirit.  

So, why am I not praying more frequently for these things to flow out of me by Your working?

Why do I keep striving and contending for these things to come from me without pleading for Your working in me to produce them?  

How foolish I am to think that I have any ability to produce anything of worth from this body of death with its rotting flesh and corrupted desires?  There is nothing good that dwells within this body of death.  

Abba, forgive me for not crying out more, for not pleading dependence more. Forgive me for not daily crying for Your grace to surrender control to Your Spirit and allow Him to produce the fruit in me that is the righteousness You desire from me.

Today, I surrender. 

Today, I plead.

Do Your work within me, Spirit.  Do what I cannot.  Make me holy.  Let my life, my corrupt flesh, produce the works of divine righteousness so that Your name, O Great God, is honored!

Lights in the World

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.