diy

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be with you.” -John 14:16-17-

In the 1950’s, resourceful homeowners began to call themselves do-it-yourselfers. Instead of paying someone to remodel the kitchen or build a new doghouse, they hammered the nails themselves. With good American efficiency, the phrase “do it yourself” soon morphed into “DIY,” and these days we have everything from DIY cheesecake baking to DIY music making. Entire television shows are based on the concept of doing it yourself. There’s even a DIY Network and a DIY magazine. With the help of the Internet, people can draft their own legal documents, appraise their own antiques, and even get a DIY divorce.
This do-it-yourself mentality didn’t start with enterprising Americans, however. It’s really nothing new, going all the way back to the Garden of Eden. “You can do it yourself, Eve. You’re a smart woman.” “You don’t need God, Adam. You can be just like God.” And all of a sudden, DIY became a part of our human DNA.
But, Jesus came to change that. God knew we needed a savior; that we couldn’t save ourselves. We can’t even begin following Jesus by ourselves. Jesus made this clear: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44). And because we need saving help every day, He sent His Spirit to live in the hearts of His people. We were never meant to follow Jesus simply by trying really hard or striving on our own. The Christian journey isn’t a DIY project.
Don’t buy into the ancient lie. You can’t do it yourself. And here’s the really good news for Jesus followers: You don’t have to.

Following Today
What’s your biggest unsolved problem today, large or small? Describe ways that you have tried to take care of it yourself. Stop to pray a minute. Ask the Holy Spirit (who lives in you) to bring insight and strength.