But our self-esteem strongly objects to that humbling truth that we depend utterly and completely upon God for anything and everything that is worthy; and that is why in our daily lives we so often leave him out of account and rely instead on our own empty resources, forsaking, as Jeremiah says, the spring of living waters for broken cisterns that can hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13).

How many professing Christians there are who, in foolish pride, imagine that they can get on well enough in their own way without God’s constant help? Is it any wonder that they find their spiritual life on examination to be so disappointing and nondescript?

For the main foundation stone of the soul’s life with God is to recognise and to accept gladly and humbly our own nothingness apart from God; and that is why we should begin each day by asking him to fill us with his grace, so that we may be enabled to please him in all our thoughts, intentions, words and acts.

Without a conscious dependence on God there can be no significant advance in the spiritual life, that is, in the deepening of our personal relationship with him.