Section 7
our temper, we may feel ashamed for several hours, unwilling to pray because we are too ashamed to pray. Eventually, however, our intense desire for the Lord will compel us to pray, and we shall pray in a very good way. In this regard we are actually helped by the flesh.
In the early years of my ministry, I used to be troubled when certain saints were not doing well spiritually. Later I learned not to be bothered by this. I realized that if we are always doing well, we shall not get into the spirit very much. If you have no failure, you may spend a great deal of time thinking how good you are. You will not be desperate to turn to the spirit. This was the rea son the Lord did not exterminate all the enemies as soon as the children of Israel entered into the good land (Judg. 2:21—3:4). God deliberately permitted certain enemies to remain for the pur pose of strengthening the children of Israel and training them to fight. In the same principle, the flesh is left here for our good. This does not mean that we should do evil that good may come. It means that, in His wisdom and sovereignty, the Lord uses the flesh for a positive purpose.
GOD'S USE OF OUR FAILURES
All seekers of the Lord are troubled by the