He thwarts my agenda, and convicts me of it. My agenda is ALWAYS based on my human wisdom. Jesus knows I’m happiest when I don’t have an agenda of my own, but rather as DumbSheepDave — clueless-I-know-what’s-best-for-me, trusting that Jesus DOES, curious/expectant to see what SovereignShepherdJesus does NEXT, in me, others, circumstances. Ahhh.

So when He thwarts my agenda, it’s a loving part of His retraining of Dave. Like when I step on the gas to get through an approaching green traffic light, but the light changes before I can get to the intersection and I have to brake hard. Or when some little old lady in a Buick pulls out in front of me causing me to brake, on a two-lane no-passing road, and then drives 25 in a 35 zone. For a few MILES. My human wisdom causes me frustration, impatience, and then once convicted, a wonderful peace comes over me, as I realize how silly I was, thinking I knew best what I needed. My agenda EXPOSED. My INdependency EXPOSED. My functioning atheism EXPOSED. Ahhh. Return to being clueless DumbSheepDave. Ahhh. Confession is the pathway to sanity, peace, happiness.

— Dave McCarty, GospelFriendships, neediest for fresh conviction of the sin of INdependence/pride/confidence-he-knows-what’s-best, that seculars around him might see the difference Jesus makes in his life, and want Him for themselves

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