Independents are always self-deceived.

Whenever I’m functioning as ShepherdDave/IndependentDave, I am self-deceived about my faulty wisdom, faulty understanding, my need to be rescued from myself by my ShepherdJesus.  I think I know good from bad choices so I don’t ask Him, and I think I know what’s thankable and what’s not, so I don’t thank him, for the harrrd.  And I rarely even thank Him when things go my way.  Leaning on my own understanding, wise in my own eyes, I’m a danger to myself and others.  A created-dependent is a fool when trying to be independent, endures unnecessary stress, lives in a prison where he only experiences joy and peace when things go his way.  Momentarily.  Orphanlike.  Weight of the world on his shoulders.  Alone.

That’s when I’m self-deceived about my plight, my need to be rescued.  The Christian life seems doable, possible.  I can handle this.  Ought to be able to handle it.  Ought to be able to make my life work.  Ought to be able to engineer happiness for myself and those I love.  Just do it.

A fool left to his own devices.  Willful, agendafied, confident, fleshly, controlling.  Like a caterpillar in a ring of fire — doomed, unless I’m rescued from Above.

–DumbSheepDave, happiest when he’s been freshly convicted of the sin of independence, hoping the pre-believers around him are noticing the difference his ShepherdJesus is making in 2013

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