Our strength is in God. It does not at all consist in numbers, in talent, in wealth, or in any earthly advantage. These things are of great value in their place; but when we make them our dependence and our strength, they become only a snare. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” We never can be weak when God is with us; we never can possess real strength, when we are separated from him. The people of God combine the elements of strength and of weakness in a wonderful manner. They have the strength of God made perfect in their own weakness. They are mighty in God, when he is their strength. But they never can have this divine strength till they have learned their own dependence upon him. Self must die, before Christ can live in us. Our first business, therefore, in every thing which we undertake for God, is to humble ourselves before him. He will go forth with us to the battle, if we make him our refuge and our strength. But God will not do our part of the work. We must do this with the utmost diligence and carefulness, as though every thing depended upon our faithfulness; and we must seek for help from God, as those only seek it who feel that without him they perish. God is our only source of strength. Yet he will not be our help if we hide one sin in our hearts. If we would have God upon our side, we must be wholly for him. It is in vain to trust in God while we dare to sin against him.