How is it, after so many years and so much experience, I still make the mistake of thinking that peace comes through control - when everything in my life and Scripture tells me it comes actually through surrender?

It's not, "Give me strength, Lord!", but "Lord, be strength in me!"
Not, "Give me wisdom!", but "Be wisdom in me!"
Not, "Lord, enable me to truly love!", but "You, Lord, love through me!"

Truth, Faith & Sight

To walk by faith and not be sight, we must find out what God says is true and then adjust our thinking accordingly. We mus alter our perceptions based on reality - not of reality based on our perceptions.

Do not be conformed to this world, the age, or your culture But instead, be transformed entirely by renewing your mind by learning God's Word and knowing the difference (though often subtle but crucial) between the true-truth and apparent-truth.

Exchange

He took my place on the Cross. So I take His place in the world.

Augustine Paraphrased

"Oh man, Learn from the Word what you ought to do. Learn from experience that the power to do it is not within you. And learn from prayer whence that power must come."

Confidence Comes By Knowledge

Why is it the atheist/humanist speaks with so much more confidence and authority about his faith than the Lord's Disciples?

Could it be because he knows the object of his faith (himself) so much better than we know ours?

He speaks from deep knowledge and vast experience, while we stumble along, trying to get by with imagination, shallow book facts, and vague hope.

We must learn to know our Savior intimately and without distraction. We must know Him as well as we know ourselves, and then live and speak and think accordingly.

Because, where is the glory for God when our testimony begins with, "Well, I believe that..."?

Let's be honest. When we use it like this, "I believe" is not a statement of doctrine, but a confession of how thoroughly we lack true, life-changing knowledge. It justifies the unbelief of unbelievers, and gives doubters ample room to doubt.