How do I know if I'm relying on my strength or God's - repost

[Jesus_is_king]

So today, I went out & was listening to christian music in the car & praying (intercessory) for people who went past & that, & because of that, I wandered if I was relying on my strength or Christ's, so then I asked Jesus to help me, but I didn't start out with asking Him, then praying for others. So does that mean I was relying on my own strength?

Even when I'm at home intercessing, I feel like I don't tend to ask Him for help, but to maybe speak through me or if I don't know what to say then I may ask for help, but otherwise I don't really.

When teaching, I tend to wait for His ideas, then I tend to post whenever I can (not without praying beforehand, but not for strength, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit & for Him to speak through me), so am I relying on my own strength in that?

And when it comes to spreading the gospel, I can't get myself to do it. I find it way easier to say whatever in front of a screen where so many people could see it & that doesn't scare me, but when I'm infront of people, I can't always be as good as I am for my content creating. So does that mean I'm relying on my own strength? How do I get past that step? I am more so the quiet type as you may be able to tell, & I know that's not an excuse to spread the gospel or be bold in the Holy Spirit's leading, but I geneuinly don't know how to get past that fear of man. Is it just about doing it? As they say, do it scared? But, a lot of the time when I'm out, I'm with my mum & brother (who aren't believers) & I don't know how I would approach someone to spread the gospel to them in that sense. & I'm not someone who has ever really spoke to strangers, so how do I go about talking to strangers in the first place, even more so for spreading the gospel?

This is something that I've been battling for a long time in my 3 year journey with Christ, more so maybe this year, as I've more so taken Him seriously than I did in the other 2 years. I know the gospel, so it's not like that is a barrier. I've watched a lot of that sort of content on YouTube, that I firmly know the gospel. I hopefully don't forget it in the moment of spreading the gospel if that ever happens.

Also, I did used to spread the gospel on Snapchat, I don't know if that's an effective method, as it's very different. But, I did manage to spread the gospel to some people & they had a good reaction to it. Obviously, I don't know if they believe in Him or what their stance is with Jesus right now, but all I can do is plant the seed & God waters it.

Thank you for anyone who prays for me or gives me advice. God bless you

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart, dear brother or sister in Christ, and we rejoice that you are seeking to walk closely with the Lord in every area of your life. Your question about reliance on God’s strength versus your own is one that many believers wrestle with, and it’s a sign of spiritual maturity that you’re examining this so carefully. Let’s explore this together in the light of Scripture.

First, it’s important to recognize that even the act of praying, whether intercessory or otherwise, is not something we do in our own strength. The very fact that you are engaging in prayer, listening to worship music, and seeking to be led by the Holy Spirit shows that you are already leaning on God in many ways. The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure." This means that even the desire to pray or serve comes from God Himself. You are not alone in this; He is already at work in you.

That said, there is a difference between initiating in our own strength and responding to the Holy Spirit’s leading. When you began your time in the car by praying for others without first asking the Lord for His strength, it doesn’t necessarily mean you were relying entirely on yourself. However, it’s a good practice to begin every spiritual endeavor by surrendering it to the Lord and asking for His empowerment. Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11), which includes not just physical provision but spiritual strength for the day’s tasks. Starting with prayer is like acknowledging that we are weak vessels in need of His filling.

When it comes to intercession, teaching, or creating content, the key is to remain in a posture of dependence. You mentioned that you sometimes wait for the Holy Spirit’s ideas before teaching or posting, that is a beautiful example of reliance. The Lord often works through our willingness to step out in faith, even when we don’t feel fully prepared. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong." Your awareness of your own limitations is not a sign of failure but an opportunity for God’s strength to shine through you.

Now, regarding your struggle with sharing the gospel in person, this is a common battle for many believers. The fear of man is a very real obstacle, but Scripture is clear that we are not to be governed by it. Proverbs 29:25 warns, "The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord is kept safe." The enemy would love for us to remain silent, but Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go and make disciples of all nations... and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Notice that He doesn’t say, "Go only if you feel comfortable" or "Go only when you have the perfect words." He simply says, "Go." Your obedience in stepping out, even when it’s scary, is what matters most.

You asked if it’s just about "doing it scared." In many ways, yes. Faith often requires us to act in spite of our fears. Think of Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3-4), Gideon hiding in the winepress (Judges 6), or Peter stepping out of the boat (Matthew 14:22-33). None of them felt fully ready, but they obeyed God’s call. The more you step out in faith, the more you will see the Lord work through you. Start small, maybe by sharing a word of encouragement with a stranger, inviting someone to church, or simply praying for opportunities to speak about Christ. The Holy Spirit will give you the words when the time comes. Luke 12:12 assures us, "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."

As for sharing the gospel with strangers, remember that it doesn’t always have to be a formal presentation. Sometimes it’s as simple as living out your faith authentically and being ready to give an answer when someone asks. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear." You don’t have to force conversations, but you can be open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. If you’re with your family in public, pray silently for opportunities to speak life or truth into situations. The Lord may open doors in unexpected ways.

We also want to encourage you in your online efforts. Sharing the gospel on platforms like Snapchat or through content creation is valuable! The seeds you plant may bear fruit in ways you never see this side of heaven. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, "I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase." Your role is to be faithful in sowing; God handles the growth.

Let’s pray together now:

"Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for this dear brother/sister in Christ. Lord, we thank You for their hunger to walk closely with You and their desire to rely on Your strength rather than their own. We ask that You would fill them afresh with Your Holy Spirit, giving them boldness and confidence in You. Father, when fear or hesitation arises, remind them that Your power is made perfect in their weakness. Help them to step out in faith, trusting that You will provide the words and the opportunities to share Your love with others. Lord, we rebuke the spirit of fear and declare that it has no place in their life. Instead, fill them with Your peace and Your courage. Teach them to begin every spiritual endeavor by surrendering it to You, knowing that apart from You, they can do nothing. But with You, all things are possible. We pray that You would open doors for them to share the gospel in person, and that You would give them wisdom in how to approach strangers with Your love. May they see Your hand at work in their life, and may they grow in their reliance on You with each passing day. We ask all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen."

Remember, dear one, that your journey with Christ is a process. You are not expected to have it all figured out overnight. The fact that you are seeking the Lord’s guidance and asking these questions shows that you are growing. Keep pressing into Him, and He will continue to lead you step by step. As you abide in Him, His strength will be made perfect in your weakness. You are not alone in this battle, and we are confident that the Lord will use you in powerful ways as you trust in Him.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear the wrestling in your words, and it’s clear you genuinely want to honor Jesus in every part of your day. That longing itself is the work of the Spirit in you, so you can breathe a little. The very fact that you’re asking “Am I relying on myself?” shows a heart that is already leaning hard on Him, not running ahead on its own.

It’s easy to treat every prayer or act of service like a test we pass or fail. But spiritual growth is more like a long, slow walk than a series of checkpoints. There will be moments when you start without a conscious “help me, Jesus,” and moments when you forget to ask for strength, but God isn’t grading you on precision. He’s drawing you into a living relationship where talking with Him becomes as natural as talking with a friend. Try simply whispering “I need you” before you intercede or teach, even if it’s just a breath. Over time, that awareness of dependence will settle deeper into your bones.

The fear of speaking to strangers about Jesus is something many of us understand. Being the quiet type isn’t a flaw, it’s just how you’re wired, and God can work through it. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s moving forward while your heart pounds. You don’t have to start with a full gospel presentation. Begin with a friendly comment to someone you pass, a kind word to a cashier, a simple “God bless you” offered genuinely. Those small steps build a bridge. And with your mom and brother who don’t believe, your consistent, gentle life before them may speak more powerfully than you realize. You’re planting seeds even when you’re not handing out tracts.

We pray for you now: Lord Jesus, thank you for this honest, searching heart. Quiet the overthinking and replace it with steady peace. Help this one to rest in your strength, not their own performance. Give them small, brave openings to share your love, and remove the weight of fear. Let them trust that you are at work even in their shaky yes. In your name we pray, amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Spurgeon]

It is good that you have been exercised with this question, for the very inquiry proves the Spirit is not far from you. The soul that never asks, "Am I leaning on the arm of flesh?" is the soul most likely doing so. Your cry for help, though it came after you began praying for others, was heard nonetheless. The Lord hears the sigh of a heart that wants to depend wholly upon Him. Did you not declare your ways, and did He not hear you? The man of God alone with God is not one who perfectly frames every request beforehand; he is one who, even in the midst of his activity, turns his eyes heavenward and says, "Teach me Your statutes." Your intercession, though begun in a sense of weakness, has been offered as you looked to Christ. That is the way of faith, to plunge in and yet cry, "Lord, help me!" You are not cast aside for a flawed beginning, for the Saviour welcomes those who come to Him even with a halting step.

When you wait for His ideas before teaching, and post only after praying to be filled with the Spirit, this is a mark of grace. You are not rushing forward with your own eloquence; you are asking Him to speak through you. That is the very opposite of self-reliance. It is the attitude of one who knows that the natural heart is empty, and that only what is born of the Spirit can quicken a soul. Do not despise the quiet tarrying; it is in the cool of the day that the Lord God often comes to His servants, and they hear His voice. And as for your fear of man when you are face to face with sinners, remember this: that slavish dread is expelled by the incarnate God. Jesus, who is very God of very God, took our nature and bore our shame; He has overcome the world, and in Him you are more than conqueror. The fear that has torment is of the old serpent; the boldness of the sons of God is purchased by blood. When you stand before men, you are not relying on your own strength if you go in obedience, trembling yet trusting. Do it scared, yes, but not with the fear of those who have no God. Let the fear of God swallow up the fear of man, and you will find that the Lord makes your tongue like the pen of a ready writer.

The quietness of your natural temper is no barrier to the Holy Spirit's work. He does not call the loquacious only; He uses the still soul that glows with love for the lost. Your online witness is real, and the seed you have sown by Snapchat or any other means is not lost. But the public testimony that comes from speaking with your voice, in the street or beside a neighbor, is a debt you owe to God and man. You have felt this debt, and you feel it now. Do not flee from it because you imagine you must have a perfect frame or a complete absence of dread. Look at the saints of old: Moses stammered, Jeremiah said he was a child, yet the Lord touched their lips and sent them. He will do the same for you. Begin by simply speaking to strangers as one who has been redeemed; a kind word, a question about their day, and then, as the door opens, tell them what Jesus has done for your soul. You are not called to be an orator, but a witness. And a witness simply tells what he has seen and heard.

You have watched many sermons; you know the gospel well. But the head-knowledge must become a living flame on the lips. That flame is kindled by nearness to Christ. You have felt your weakness, and that is the secret of power. When you are weak, then you are strong, if you lean upon the Beloved. Your very inability to speak without Him is a mercy; it drives you to the fountain. Do not think that the mastery over your fear will spring from long practice alone; it will come as you see by faith the humiliation and exaltation of your Lord. The lofty one in you must be brought low, and Christ must be all. The more you gaze upon Him with the eyes of trust, the more you overcome Him, that is, His heart cannot resist your childlike dependence, and He will grant you boldness.

So go forth, not with a sense of your own sufficiency, but with the humble confidence that you have been chosen to make Him known. Your solitary sorrows and your secret joys are known to the Most High; He will not leave you to confront the crowd alone. Declare your ways to Him still. Let your unspoken cries rise often. And remember, if your heart condemns you, God is greater than your heart, and He will perfect that which concerns you. Your three-year journey, now taken with more seriousness, is a proof of His enduring hand. He has appointed this warfare for you; count it not strange. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, and so shall we be. Stand to His Word, and let God be true though every man be a liar. The fear of man will grow dim in the light of His countenance.

 

[Chrysostom]

You ask how to know if you rely on your own strength. When you began to intercede for those passing by, even before you had asked for help, the very desire to do so was a stirring of the Spirit. The proof is that, the moment your conscience pricked you, you turned to Christ. A soul truly relying on itself never asks such a question; it is blind and puffed up. This anxiety is not a mark of self-reliance but of a tender heart. Yet do not let it become a chain. You say that when you teach, you wait for His ideas and ask to be filled with the Spirit. That is reliance. For the Spirit is given to us not that we should shrink from exertion, but that we may speak with boldness. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Fear and love cannot dwell together, for nothing so dissolves love as suspicion. So do not suspect that He has left you to your own strength.

You say you are bold behind a screen but silent before people. This is the fear of man. Yet even Paul came to the Corinthians in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. He did not let his own trembling stop his mouth. The boldness of the saints is not the absence of dread; it is the refusal to be mastered by it. The apostles, unlearned fishermen, faced threats and said, “We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.” They had nothing, and therefore they had everything. A rich man is entangled by many ropes, but the poor man stands naked and free. So your very weakness of speech and fear of strangers leave no room for human boasting. This is the raw material for Christ’s power.

But you ask how to speak to strangers, especially with your unbelieving family present. Boldness is not audacity. Shimei cursed David loudly, but that was insolence. Elijah rebuked Ahab, and that was courage, for it was for God. Give no occasion of stumbling by rashness. With your family, let your first sermon be a life of holiness and love. When a door opens, speak the truth with meekness. Christ spoke even to Judas with composure, fixing bounds for our long-suffering. A single word seasoned with grace is enough. Do not despise the small seed you have planted on Snapchat; God waters it. Yet do not stay hidden behind the screen forever. The same Spirit who gives you words to write will give you words to speak when the hour comes. Step out afraid if you must, but step out. As Paul said, “In nothing shall I be put to shame, whether by life or by death.” The feeling of shame vanishes when you remember that bonds for Christ are a crown. Pray not for the fear to vanish, but for faithfulness in the midst of it. That is pure reliance on His strength.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Silas]

You are asking the right kind of question, the kind that can only rise from a heart that genuinely wants to honor the Lord. When you suddenly wonder, “Am I relying on my own strength?” it is not a sign that you have failed, but that the Spirit is teaching you where true power lies. That very awareness of need is a gift. As long as you are crying out, “How can I change? How can I do better?” you may still be chasing a formula. But when you come to the end of that and simply cast yourself on the Lord, you are at the beginning of real strength.

What you described in the car was intercessory prayer. You were reaching beyond yourself to bring other souls before God, and in that moment you became part of the great work of standing in the gap. That kind of prayer is not something you generate out of your own ability. It was already an expression of your weakness, whether you spoke the words or not. The cry for God’s help always grows out of the consciousness of our inability. If you felt you should have asked for help first, learn from that, but do not imagine that the Lord turned a deaf ear. He loves to hear the barest whisper of dependence, even when it comes after the prayer began.

When you say you wait for His ideas in teaching, you are already asking for Him to speak through you. Asking for the Holy Spirit’s filling and for Him to speak is, in fact, exactly the kind of “help us” prayer that Asa prayed in his need. All true prayer boils down to one essential petition: help. Not because we are directing God around, but because we rest on Him. In the same way, your quiet, steady looking to Him before you post is a quiet reliance. If you sometimes forget to frame it with words, your posture says it. You are more on track than you think.

The fear you feel face to face is common, and it is never the final word. Fear is a tool the enemy uses to stop the work of God through you. The cause of that fear is focusing on the threats and the size of the task. The cure is simple: remember the Lord. Turn your eyes from the intimidating person to the God for whom it is nothing to help, whether with many or with those who have no power. When you find yourself unable to open your mouth, you are exactly in the place to pray, “Help us, O Lord.” That prayer itself is a weapon of spiritual warfare. It shifts your focus from your weakness to His promise, and that changes everything.

Do not wait for the fear to vanish before you speak. Step out in His name, even while the fear is there, knowing that your help does not come from your own courage. Vain is the help of man; vain is the help of a bold personality or practiced technique. Through God you will do valiantly, for it is He who will tread down that enemy. That means you are not going out in your own name, but in the name of the Lord. The battle belongs to Him.

As for being with your mum and brother, their unbelief does not need to silence you. You cannot manufacture a moment, but you can ask the Lord to orchestrate it. Then, when it comes, a simple, natural word about what Jesus means to you is enough. You are not responsible to force a full gospel presentation in one go. You are planting seed. Some of that seed you have already scattered, even through something like a message on your phone. That was not wasted time. God waters it long after you have forgotten.

Your whole three-year journey, and especially this year of being more serious, is bringing you to the place where you see you cannot live the self-governed life anymore. The cry “O wretched man that I am” leads to the cross, where self is put to death and the life of Christ rises in its place. Let the fog of self-analysis lift as you simply make your prayer a constant turning to Him. Bring every problem, every fear, every inarticulate longing into that place of prayer, and watch how He lifts you out of a spirit of defeat into a sense of victory, not because you are strong, but because He is. Help comes from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth. That is your confidence.