Hear [ ] Roar

Whenever I think of self-dependence, I immediately begin singing "I am woman, hear me roar," by Helen Reddy.  But what is "self-dependence" really?  According to Webster, it means, "the ability to care for one's self."  So, is that a bad thing?  It could be good to care for yourself and not have to rely on anyone else - at least that is what I have been told.

I read an interesting quote yesterday from a book entitled Transformational Discipleship.

Disciples who are transformed are still overwhelmed with the truth of God's love; they are continually in awe that Jesus loves them.  Transformation is stalled when we grow calloused to His love by moving out of a vulnerable posture and into a position of self-dependence.

 I don't know about you, but I do not want my spiritual transformation to ever be stalled or calloused.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Rather than being calloused, I want to continually be changing - transforming - into the likeness of Christ. 

Again, I ask, is being self-dependent bad?

A dependent posture is unhealthy as the believer finds security and worth in another person rather than Christ.  Dependence on another is a form of idolatry, finding the ultimate fulfillment in someone other than God, and saddles the relationship with unrealistic expectations.  Equally destructive is independence as the believer attempts to live his faith alone.

I must say that I am glad I am fully capable of going to the grocery store (by myself), picking out what I need (by myself), maneuvering my cart to the checkout line (by myself), and purchasing my selections (by myself).

However, at the same time, I am also fully aware that when it comes to my spiritual life, I do NOT want to be dependent on myself.  If it was up to my own fleshly self... oh goodness...

Romans 7:18
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh.  For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.

By myself, I do not have the ability to do good.
But there is good news.
I am not my own.
I am a new creation.

Romans 8:1-4
Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did.  He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Praise the Lord that salvation is not up to me.  Praise God that He loves me (and you!) so much that He sent His one and only Son to take our place - to fulfill the requirements of the flesh - to save us from eternal separation from God.

Rather than singing "I am woman, hear me roar," I think from now on I will sing what David sang in 1 Chronicles 16.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is King!”  Let the sea and everything in it roar; let the fields and all that is in them exult.  Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth.  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.

Hosea 11:10
They will walk after the LORD, He will roar like a lion...