Can we, like the Apostle Paul, "Boast in our weakness?" That is a spiritual confession that frees us to accept God's grace. Some discussion of outward observance vs. inward obedience is explored. Too often outward observance actually works against accepting God's grace. Like we can do it on our own.

In this section of the Upbuilding Discourse of "Needing God" the deeper self counsels the first self that 'Even in this moment, everything can be changed." Soren does not want his readers to place their hope on the inconstancy of the external world. He likens us to children who can be swayed by a trinket of externality and thus forget our need for God. He wants us to lose that first self to find our deeper self.

Jesus says that without him, we can do nothing. That is to try and make ourselves right with God without him. Becoming nothing is freeing. All of our strivings, efforts, fruitless chasing of the wind. Rest in him. What seems hard makes life less difficult.

We are capable of nothing at all in regards to earning God's favor. It is by Grace alone by Faith alone. We are capable of nothing "Until the fire of God's love ignites the blaze."

God's grace even makes our sufferings brief and short.

Soren reminds us of that Scripture verse that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." So it is first Grace, then Godliness, then Contentment.

Soren reminds us that with God, one does not need a lot for a contented life.

It is very freeing to be decreased. We can fly through the incarcerating iron bars of the world when we are not saddled with the inordinate self and its suffocating desires.