I Think I Can do it Myself!



Morgan today with
her brother, Matthew
 

“I think I can do it myself.” “I think I can do it myself.” We heard this over and over as we headed up the mountain to go snow tubing with our not-quite-three year old granddaughter, Morgan. This would be her first experience on the slopes and we didn’t know for sure if the rules would allow her go tubing once we got there. We told her numerous times she would probably have to ride with one of us, and every time we did, she repeated her mantra, “I think I can do it myself.”

We arrived, bundled her in her snow suit and set off to hear the good or bad news, wondering what we were going to do if they turned her away. The slope wasn’t busy so they approved her if she rode with an adult. She loved every minute of the speedy rides to the bottom and yet we still heard, “I think I can do it myself.”

On our last trip down the steep hill, we put Morgan in her own tube. I held the handle on one side and my daughter held the handle on the other side of Morgan’s tube and down the hill we flew. She loudly cackled in delight all the way down the slope, so loud that even the echo was loud. And she was finally satisfied because, “I did it myself.”

When I search my heart I see that I have that same “I can do it myself” attitude. During a recent study of Revelation, I found that during the thousand year reign when satan is locked up and not able to deceive or tempt people, God has to rule with an iron rod and settle disputes among peoples and nations. Except for those born during the Millennium, only Christians populate the globe at this time.

I know you’ve heard the statement, “The devil made me do it.” I had an epiphany that day when I figured out the devil didn’t make me do it. It was my own sinful nature that was my undoing. “I did it by myself.”

A soloist at church last Sunday was introducing the song, Benediction. She made a profound statement when she said, “I don’t need help falling. I can do that by myself. What I need is God’s hand in mine and His benediction over my life every day. I need His help to stand.”

So today I issue a proclamation to satan: “Satan, get away from me. I can fall all by myself. And to God I say, “Father, thank you for holding my hand in yours, helping me balance and stand firm in You. Thank you for Your face that shines on me and fills me with Your joy.”

Singing joyful praises to my Father-

Cathy 

Benediction: Words and music by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Billy Simon

© 1991 Emily Boothe, Inc./Riveroaks Music Co./Locally Owned Music (BMI)