Section 9
I have read a number of books on holiness, spirituality, and the victorious life. I have tried all the ways recommended in these books. None of these ways was altogether successful. Although we know that we must be holy, spiritual, and vic torious, we fall short and come into suffering. Our goal is holiness or spirituality or victory. But God's goal is to work Himself into us. As long as God has the opportunity to work Himself into our being, He does not care very much whether our situation is excellent or poor. Often He has a greater opportunity to do what he desires in us when our condition is pitiful. When our situa tion and condition are excellent, we may be closed to the Lord's inward working. I do not encourage you to be in a poor situation or to be in a low state spiritually. But I can assure you that when you are in such a condition or state, God will be able to work more of Himself into you than when your condition is good. The reason for this is that when we are in a difficult situation, we are more open to the Lord, more willing to turn to Him, and more willing to allow Him to work Himself into us.
Because sin, death, and Satan are conducting a continuous meeting in our flesh, we all even tually become extremely troubled and even dis gusted with the flesh. But God is sovereign. If we