On Helping Myself

I expect nothing from myself, and everything from Christ.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

That this work [i.e., the mortification of sin] is not to be done without the Spirit I have also shown before. Whence, then, do we expect the Spirit? From whom do we look for him? Who has promised him to us, having procured him for us? Ought not all our expectations to this purpose to be on Christ alone? Let this, then, be fixed upon your heart, that if you have not relief from him you shall never have any. All ways, endeavors, contendings that are not animated by the expectation of relief from Christ and him only are to no purpose, will do you no good. Yea, if they are anything but supports of your heart in this expectation, or means appointed by himself for the receiving of help from him, they are in vain.
- John Owen