What does it mean to live a real Christian life? According to pastor and author Ray Stedman, it isn’t about about trying to live up to the teachings and example of Jesus. It’s about a life-changing relationship with Christ—at the very core of our being.

In this excerpt of his classic bestseller Authentic Christianity, Stedman reflects on how the apostle Paul relied on such a heartfelt awareness for his own strength, and how he used it to encourage others.

This is the spiritual secret that can renew and refresh any of us as we also learn that we are not sufficient, in ourselves, for the real challenges facing us.