WORRY THE DEBILITATING FACTOR FOR MISSIONAL LIVING

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Christians all over the world experience unnecessary worry! They worry about health, they worry about finances, they worry about their children, they worry about being obedient to God, and the list could go on and on about the things that Christians worry about!

But for Christians who sincerely want to join Christ on His Great Commission, worry isn't only unnecessary but it is also debilitating! Why is i debilitating? Because is paralyzes you from doing the things that you really want to do or the things that you know you should do. I know of a person who decided not to graduate from college once they learned that they would required to take a speech class. You see they were worry and fearful over speaking in public and that worry crippled them from finishing school.

What's a follower of Christ to do? After all, isn't worry just a natural part of life, including a Christian's? Isn’t just something we need to accept as part of our life? Or, is it? Does God really want us to just deal with the fact that worry is a part of our life or is it part of God’s plan for you to live a worry free life now that you’ve come to faith in Jesus Christ?

I BELIEVE A WORRY FREE LIFE IS WHAT GOD’S WILL IS FOR OUR LIVES!

In the book LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY you will discover that worry isn't part of God's plan for His children and it will serve as your guide on how you can rid your life of it forever. Before I tell you what you will learn from this book, let me first tell you what this book is not!

• First, this is not a book containing five easy steps to a more fulfilling and peaceful life.

• Second, this book isn't a watered down Christian self-help book that contains a bunch of fluff with no real spiritual substance or meat.

• Third, this book not a “Name It & Claim It” book. On the contrary, the pages contained in this book are going to challenge you beyond your level of comfort!

As matter of fact, as you read this book you may begin to wonder if you really want to live that worry free life! The Biblical principles that you will learn will sound totally counter intuitive to all that you have come to know about living a life without worry. You will learn that a life without worry is a life of denial; You will learn that obtaining that life will require you to die to yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Christ. It is a life of total submission in mind, heart, and will to the will of the resurrected Jesus.

This book will provoke you! I am not writing this book as a comfort to you but more to challenge you! I want to provoke you to rethink why you’re worried, why you allow those worries to paralyze you from joining Christ on His mission, and why God still has you in this world.

LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY will teach you six Biblical principles and five Biblical practices for living a life free of worry. These principles are taken from a famous quote from the great missionary, Hudson Taylor and exemplified through his life of service.

So, with this warning clearly given, read at your own risk!

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF

LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRK

2 REASONS WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD NEVER WORRY!

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No matter how you cut it, life is filled with trials, tribulations and difficult times and as a result people tend to worry and fret over what will become of it all.  But for those who are Followers of Christ who are actively and intentionally joining Christ on His mission of redeeming a lost world the trials, tribulations and difficult times are multiplied.  In addition to all the normal difficulties of life Missional Christians also fight a spiritual battle of Satan trying to discourage the believer. But in the midst of all these struggles we hear the voice of Jesus ring out saying,

” … do not be anxious for your life … ” Matthew 6:25 (NAS)

Notice what Jesus didn’t say,  He didn’t say, “Try not to worry to much!”  No, He just told us to stop it!  But how?  How can you stop worry about the unknown that follows a trial and tribulation?  Well lucky for us Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, not only tells us to stop it but He also tells us the cure for the worried life and how to experience peace instead!

This is so important for those who are intentionally living a missional life because this kind of lifestyle will be filled with lots of difficult trials and tribulations and if your faith is not firmly rooted in Christ you will literally worry yourself to death as you attempt to live a missional life.

So today, we are going to look at 2 reason why we shouldn’t worry!

2 Reasons For Why You Shouldn’t Worry  (Matthew 6: 25-34)

#1:  Because There’s More To Life Than Your Worries!

”  do not be anxious for your life. Is not life more than food, and body more than clothing.”  (v. 25 NAS)

The truth of the matter is that when we worry or get anxious about something we are focusing on a very small part of our life.  Whether we worry about food, clothing, health, work, or finances the truth of the matter is that these are just a small part of what makes up our  lives.  Life is also filled with many other things. These others things are good and pleasing and amazing.  When we worry we are choosing to not look at the good things that are going on in our lives.

#2:  Because Worry Doesn’t Accomplish Anything!

“And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life.” (v. 27 NIV)

Think about it for a moment!  What does worry do for you?  What does it change?  Does the energy you spend on worry help to fix the issue or the problem?  No!  Absolutely not!  Can worry give you a longer life?  No. Actually, science now says that worry can shorten your life.  It can contribute to all kinds of physical problems that can lead to a diminished healthy life.  So, I ask what good does worrying do for you?  No good at all !

For more great Biblical teachings on the principles and practice for living a worry free life while joining Christ on His mission, check out this powerful book entitled:

LIVING ON MISSION IN SPITE OF MY WORRY.

In this book you will learn:

• Six Biblical principles for over coming worry while being missional.

• Five Biblical principles for implementing a worry free life.

• And a section for developing your own personal strategy for a life without worry.

  CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT

Praying For God To Send More Harvest Laborers Into The Fields

In Luke 10:2 Jesus tells us that the spiritual harvest fields are ready to be harvested but there's one big problem to accomplishing that task!  That problem is that there's just not enough workers to go out and harvest the fields.  But then Jesus gives us the solution to our problem 

Watch this video of how some Followers of Christ in Tucson, Arizona are implementing Christ's solution.  

Are you ready to go start a monthly LUKE 10:2 PRAYER MEETING in your community?  Can you pray for God to raise up, train up and unleash more laborers into the harvest fields?

If so then leave a comment saying, 

"I Will"

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Disciple Are Made - Not Just Born Again

Disciples are made, not just born again! Now that’s an interesting statement and one that really needs to be looked at closely. At one angle the statement seems completely contrary to what we know about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. After all, didn’t Jesus say, “… you must be born again …”? Of course He did! And what Jesus says is absolute truth! So, then the statement “Disciples Are Made - Not Just Born Again” is false! Or is it?

Didn’t Jesus also say in Matthew 28:18-20 as part of the Great Commission to, “… Go and make disciples …”? Notice the emphasis I am placing on the word, “MAKE”. Again, of course He did! And also, once again, what Jesus says is absolutely truth!

How then do we look at the original statement, “Disciples Are Made - Not Just Born Again”? Simply by just saying that it is true and must be accepted!

The real question then deals with how to understand and harmonize both parts of the statement so that it can guide us into complete obedience to Christ and His mission.

First, let’s take a closer look at what Jesus says about being born again. The statement is found in Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus in the Gospel of John 3:1-21. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to talk with Jesus and get more information from Jesus about the things of God. Nicodemus starts off his discourse with a statement he believed to be true about Jesus. He says,

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God was with him.” (v.2)

Jesus then jumps right in there with this teaching about the need to be born again and how that experience is the entrance into being part of the kingdom of God. The born again experience is the essential step that every person must take if they are going to enter into the Kingdom of God. Without taking that step one cannot enter.

After some questioning and answering back and forth by Jesus and Nicodemus, Jesus finally explains that the way one experiences this born again experience is through believing in Him, the Son of God. This is the place where we read one of the most memorized scriptures in the Bible,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever, believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

God grace of salvation, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in Him alone is how one experiences this born again experience.

But in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus wasn’t talking about the born again experience! He wasn’t talking about the initial step that brings them into the Kingdom of God. No. Jesus was giving His final words of instructions before He leaves this world and goes back to Heaven to wait for the time of His return. Jesus is talking about the final product that is to be produced in those who come to faith in Him.

Jesus was teaching Nicodemus how to get started but Jesus was instructing His apostles about what the final outcome would be for those who come and receive that born again experience. The verses in John 3 talk about the beginnings the verses in Matthew 28 talk about the goal.

The born again experience is the first step in the disciple making process but it is also not the final step. The goal of Jesus is to make him more and more disciples - not just more and more people being born again. While it is very true one cannot become a disciple of Jesus unless they are born again, it is also true that one cannot be a fully devoted follower of Christ by just being born again.

While John 3 brings a person to the first of salvation through faith, Matthew 28 reminds us that being a fully devoted disciple of Jesus requires us to take additional steps of obedience.

If we are striving to be fully devoted followers of Christ are going to be obedient we must share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost so they can hear and believe in Jesus and thereby receive that born again experience. But we must also recognize that that there is still much more to do if we are going to be obedient to Christ command and commission in Matthew 28. We must baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and we must teach them to obey all that Christ has commanded.

It is through the sharing of the Gospel, baptizing into the faith and instruction resulting in obedience that disciples are made.

Are You Prepared & Trained To Join Christ When He Brings A Powerful Movement To Your Community

Many people are praying for God to bring one of His powerful movements to their city and their nations!  Many pastors and churches are also praying for God to unleashing a great revival in their area!

But I have a question for you!  

ARE YOU PREPARED TO JOING CHRIST WHEN HE DOES BRING THAT POWERFUL MOVEMENT?

Watch this video and then ask yourself if there are some things you need to be doing as a Christian to be ready to join Christ on His mission.  Pastors you need to ask yourself if there are some things you need to be doing to position your church body (members) to be ready to joining Christ on His mission.  Take a few moment and watch this short video. 

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Failure: A Tombstone Or A Stepping Stone?

How you deal with failure will have a lot to do with how well you join Christ on His mission!  Watch this video and be encouraged! 

The Who, The What and The Why To Participating In The Great Commission

Why is the Great Commission so important that it should become our driving desire in life?  That's what this short video is intended to share.  Watch it and share your thoughts about it.

3 Things I've Learned About Having & Being A Father

What Does It Mean To Pray In Jesus' Name? And Why Is It A Powerful Prayer?

"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."  John 14:13-24 

Flow Chart For Reproducing Disciple Making

As we are out in the spiritual harvest fields sharing Jesus and the Gospel with others, different people will give us different responses!  Do you know what actions you should take based upon the response you get from the different people you share Christ with?

In this video you are going to learn some possible different actions you can take when people give you different responses to your offer of receiving Christ and your invitation to begin a discipleship process with them.  It is a flow chart to help you know what to do and what to say!

3 Things To Expect From God When You Join Him On Mission!

" Yes, He (God) has humbled me and shown me what I am, revealing Himself as a present, a very present help in times of trouble.  And though He does not deprive me of feeling in my trial, He enables me to sing, 'Yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation ... Now I am happy in my Saviour's love.  I can thank Him for all, even the most painful experiences of the past, and trust Him without fear for all that is to come."  Hudson Taylor

In this video I am going to share 3 things you can expect from God when you decided to join Him on His mission!  They are taken from the above quote of Hudson Taylor and is verified with scripture.  THEY WILL BE CHALLENGING TO HEAR AND ACCEPT! But they will also, once made part of your life, prepare you for whatever assignment the Lord sees fit to give you as part of His mission.  

Watch, Listen & Be Challenged!

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Why You Should Spend .99 Cents To Buy This Kindle Book!

Watch this video and learn why you should buy this powerful book on missional living!  The book is called, THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE: A Journey Into Missional Living.

For a limited time the Kindle version of this book is on sale for only .99 cents!  That right, .99 cents!

For less than one dollar or the cup of coffee you can down load the kindle version of this book.

Watch this video to find out what you will get for your .99 cents if you decide to buy it.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

When The Sight Of Jesus Can Frighten You!

Have you ever thought that there are times when the sight of Christ might bring fear into your life?  Even for those who have intentionally decided to join Christ on His mission can have times when seeing Jesus brings fear into their lives. 

What this video and hear a true story from the Word of Christ when the sight of Jesus brought fear into the lives of his disciples

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How To Have God Guide You!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NAS)

In this short but powerful verse we are given specific instructions on how to allow God to guide our lives!  The Bible tells us: What To Do; What Not To Do; and To Claim A Promise!  In other words there are three conditions (what to do and what not to do) that when fulfilled, God will keep His promise. 

FIRST CONDITION: What To Do!

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART!

In other words, we are to have faith in God.  Trust is just another way of saying Faith! Throughout scripture, expressing faith in God is always essential to seeing God work in and through our lives. The Bible even says that faith is essential in pleasing God.

"Without faith it is impossible to please God" Hebrews 11:6

You have to have faith in God!  You have to be trusting in God to work in you, through you and in the circumstances you find yourself in.  ARE YOU TRUSTING GOD?

But we're not only to trust Him!  We are to trust Him with all our hearts.  Not some of our heart, not part of our heart but ALL of our heart.  When it comes to trusting in God there should be absolutely no doubt or concern whatsoever.  Our full trust and confidence in Him is what God expects of us, if we are expecting him to keep His promise!

SECOND CONDITIONS: What Not To Do!

DON'T RELY ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING!

This verse is very clear that we are not to lean or stand ourselves up on our own abilities to reason things out.  Often, when God tells us what to do, it won't make a bit of sense.  

I don't think it made much sense to Moses when the Children of Israel needed water and God told him to hit the rock with his staff!  And then on a different occasion God tells him to speak to the rock to get water.  Are you serious?  Hit and speak to a rock! That doesn't make sense. 

I don't think it made a bit of sense to Jesus' disciples when Jesus told them to feed 5,000 men plus women and children with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes!  And if I was Peter it would have made no sense to me at all for Jesus to tell me to go out to a lake, grab a fish, open its mouth and there inside find money and then go pay the temple tax.  Really! Feeding a large group of people with just a little bit of fun and finding money in the mouth of a fish to pay my taxes, just doesn't make sense!

But for God it isn't a requirement for it to make sense to us on how these crazy things that He tell us to do work out!  We Don't Need To Understand!

The only requirement that God expects is obedience.  Obedience is Jesus' LOVE LANGUAGE.  

Jesus speaking, "If you love me keep my commandments." John 15:10

THIRD CONDITION: What To Do!

IN ALL YOUR LIFE MAKE GOD KNOWN!

Throughout you entire life there is always one common denominator!  What is it?

GOD!

It was God who fashioned you, formed you, saved you and maintains you.  Without God and Christ we would be helplessly and hopelessly drowning in our sea of sin!  God has loved us with an everlasting love. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God! NOTHING! 

So, why shouldn't we in all our ways acknowledge God?  Why shouldn't we make Him known to the whole world?  How can we help but speak of the great and mighty things that God has done in the past and in our own lives.  

When we are acknowledging God in all our ways, we are shining the Light of Christ brightly in our part of this dark world!  We are making this world a brighter place to live. 

THE ONE PROMISE: What God Will Do For Us!

HE WILL GUIDE US AND DIRECT US!

After all, why wouldn't God direct us and lead us if we are putting our faith in him, making Him known to all the world and not leaning on our own understanding?  Of course He will!  

You fulfill those conditions and you can take this promise that God has made to you, to the bank and cash it in. 

THAT'S PROMISE THAT GOD WILL HONOR AND KEEP!

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1 Priority That Is A Must For Every Christian

There are a few things written in the Bible that Christ says are "MUST" things that need to get done!  Today's post talks about one of those things that Jesus says is a must for him and for us.

Watch and be challenged to make sure your priorities include this one "MUST" thing!

Alleviating The Worry Of Joining Christ On His Mission!

Worry is one of the biggest barriers that keep Christians from joining Christ on His mission.  And that worry can involve many different things.  

They Worry About Saying The Wrong Things:

Some Christians feel that they just don't know enough about their Christian faith to share the Gospel with others, and as such, they could easily say something that is wrong.  The good news is that the Gospel is not complicated and doesn't require you to be a rocket scientist to do it.  With some very basic and quick training you can both thoroughly understand the Gospel and share it with others.  THIS IS A WORRY THAT IS EASILY REMEDIED!  

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT A GREAT RESOURCE ON BASIC TRAINING FOR SHARING JESUS!

They Worry About Not Having The Right Answers To Peoples Questions:

When you share Jesus with others, will they have questions? Absolutely! But don't allow the worry of not having the right answer keep you from sharing Jesus with others.  

There's a true story in the Bible, after Jesus had healed a man from being blind from birth, that the religious leaders (who didn't like Jesus) decided they needed to question the man who had been healed.  Take a moment and read about how this man responded to comments about Jesus that he had no answers for:

"A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. 'Give glory to God,' they said. 'We know this man is a sinner.' He replied, 'Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" Luke 9

You can read the whole story in the Gospel of John, chapter 9.  But did you see how the man responded to the comments he had no knowledge of?  This man should serve as an example to the rest of us, on how we should respond to people who have questions, sincere or insincere questions!  That response should simply be:

"That is something I don't have an answer for but I will search to find the answer for you, but for now let me share with you what I do know!"

Then you share with them what Jesus has done for you since placing your faith in Him. You don't need to have all the answers to everyones questions concerning God and Jesus! You can always go find those answers.  But you should use their questions to share more of our story of coming to faith in Christ. People can argue about theology but no one can argue about your testimony in Christ!  They may not believe it but they can't argue against it. 

They Worry About The Type Of People God Will Have Them Go To:

That's the worry that Jonah had when God called him to go prophecy against the Great city of Nineveh. He didn't like them and he wanted to full unbridle wrath of God to fall on them. His biggest worry was that they would hear his message and the repent and if God saw their repentance, Jonah knew that God would forgive them.  

There might be some people you just don't like, you don't care for and you could care less if they came to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  If so, then you have an sinful attitude problem.  You need to be so convicted in your heart by the Lord that those whom you care the least for are those that want to come to know Jesus. You need to spend so much time in the presence of the Lord that his desires for these people become your desires as well. 

And list of worries can go on and on.

Philippians 4:6 gives us one powerful practice to help alleviate the anxiety that keeps us from joining Christ on His mission.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

What's that one "Best Practice" for ridding yourself from the worry and anxiety that plagues your heart.  IT'S PRAYER! When we pray God sends His peace into our lives to do two things:

1. Guard Our Hearts: God's peace will alleviate the emotional pain and suffering that joining Christ on His mission might give you.  From my experiences, God actually changes the emotional pain into emotional pleasure, as I join Christ on His mission.
2. Guard Our Minds:  God's peace will also remove the confusions of our thinking and replace it with the Mind of Christ that gives us clear understanding.  

So, if you are worried about joining Christ on His mission I suggest you just STOP IT and start PRAYING ABOUT IT. You know it's God's will for you to join Him on His mission, so just take the time in prayer to receive God's peace and His transformation and then just go join Him and see the great things that God will do in and through you.  

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The #1 Factor That Determines How You Portray Christ To The World!

While there are other things that will determine how you portray Christ to others, I believe this video will share with you one of, if not the most, factor in how people see Christ in you.  To learn more about how to shine the Light of Christ brightly in your part of this dark world, check out this powerful book on living a powerful missional life: 

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE: A Journey Into Missional Living.

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A Powerful Thought To Consider About Powerful Missional Living

3 Things Jesus Did To Ignite A Disciple Making Movement

While doing a study of the Gospel of what Jesus actually did to ignite a powerful disciple making movement I found this very important Bible verse.

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed and he healed them.  Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him."  Matthew 4:23-25

Watch this video to learn more about the 3 things Jesus did to ignite a disciple making movement and how to apply them for today.

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1 Reassuring Characteristic Of Jesus That Should Give You Hope!

In Matthew 8:1-4 we read a story about Jesus being approached by a many who had leprosy and from this encounter we learn sometime very tender and true about Jesus.  It is something that we all should remember when we are faced with difficult times and hardships. 

“When he (Jesus) came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  ‘I am willing,’ he said.  ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.  Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you don’t tell anyone.  But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Because of this mans disease he was assigned a place in society where he was to have very little contact with people.  Leprosy is very contagious.  Most of the time people with leprosy lived in colonies specifically for them.  For a person with this horrible disease, there was very little human contact and as a result very little intimacy.  People in this condition lived very lonely lives that were filled with desperation.

Jesus’ growing reputation of being able to heal the sick had obviously reached this man and for which provided him with hope.  Out of this hope and after hearing that Jesus was back in his area, this man took a chance and left the life of isolation that he had been assigned to in order to come and see Jesus. 

When the man finally gets to where Jesus was at we see him intentionally but with humility kneel down before Jesus to ask the unthinkable!  The question this man asked Jesus wasn’t:

1. Are you able to heal me? 
2. Or, am I worthy of your healing?

This man already knew that Jesus was more than capable of healing of him.  He had no doubts about that! He had heard the reports of how Jesus had healed others over and over again.  HE KNEW JESUS COULD HEAL HIM!

This man already knew that Jesus’ healing would not be based on whether he was worthy of being healed. I think the man already knew HE WASN’T WORTHY OF BEING HEALED!

The question this man was asking was:

Jesus Are You Willing To Heal Me?

It is as if this man was saying to Jesus, “Lord I already know you more than able to heal me and I know that I am not worthy of being healed but Lord would you still be willing to heal me?”

This man’s doubt was rested in the bed of Jesus’ willingness! 

But isn’t that where most of our doubts rest when it comes to experiencing God’s help in our lives?  We know God can! But is God willing to help us?  We know God was willing to help Aunt Jackie but is He willing to help me?  We know he was willing to help Uncle Bob but will He help me?

Then Jesus’ tender response is giving that not only should give us reassurance but teach us something new about the nature and character of God.  How Jesus responds this man, should serve to let us know how he would also respond to us.   Jesus says to this man with leprosy.   After reaching out and touching this man, which is an amazing thing in and of itself, Jesus says,

“I’m Wiling!”

And immediately the mans leprosy was gone!  First, Jesus answers the mans question and then He gives the man what his heart desired and need most.

Here’s what we can learn from this true story from the Word of God about Jesus:

Jesus is far more willing to do amazing things in our lives than we are willing to ask Him to do.

That’s right, the reason why we don’t experience more of God’s amazing power in our lives to meet our deepest needs isn’t because Christ is unwilling - it's because we don't believe He is willing and therefore, won't ask Him for help!

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