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MANIPULATING THE ALMIGHTY

God cannot be manipulated by my obedience; no amount of clever posturing succeeds in reshaping His will or ways. The Almighty sees right through every attempt I make to take control of circumstances that He alone must govern. Doing the will of God must be an act of love and abandon, not a contrived form of leverage. Self-dependence is not only unnecessary, it is rebellious refusal of His Grace and Lordship, therefore must be renounced in all its forms. The Pharisee’s prayer in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector demonstrates how NOT to pray: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” It is the humble acceptance of His sovereign and underserved mercy that invites unrestricted blessing. The Tax Collector "would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!" Father, cleanse my soul of every smidgen of poisonous pride and feigned innocence.

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