With springtime so close—a time when God’s beautiful creation begins life anew—I always feel inspired to make a fresh start in my own life. How about you?
The thing is, mostly I think about all the things I want to “do” better.
I want to...
- do better at praying;
- do better at spending time with God in His word;
- do more to serve Him;
- do better at submitting to my husband;
- do more for my family and others;
- do better at...
The list goes
on and on—
all the things
to do better!
Sure, all those things I want to do better are good goals—but each time I fail, I lose my joy and contentment.
I end up feeling like I'm failing God most of the time. Is this the abundant life Christ died to give me?
Just yesterday, I was talking with my daughter, Robyn. We were discussing the need to find our joy in who we are in Christ—Instead of how well we see ourselves doing.
She shared with me a quote from a book she’s reading...
“The continual grubbing on the inside to see whether we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, morbid type of Christianity, not the robust, simple life of the child of God.”
- Have I been self-focused or God-focused?
- Am I trying to do good in my own power?
- Or am I trusting God's power to do good in and through me?
- Am I trying to serve Him in my own strength? Or in His strength?
Those questions suddenly became more important than my “to do better” list.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
”
God’s love
is unconditional.
It’s a gift,
not something
we earn.
“As ye have
therefore received
Christ Jesus
the Lord,
so walk ye in him:”
The Christian life
is not about
trying hard to
do better—
It’s about
being yielded
to Him.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
He must increase, but I must decrease. ”
"God doesn’t want a better you—He wants a deader you. God doesn’t want to change your life—He wants to exchange your life.”
– Bro. Steve Curington, Tall Law.
God promises
His grace
is sufficient.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
So join with me!
Let's toss out our
"to do better" lists
and start life
fresh this spring
by simply
being His child:
resting securely
in His Love,
yielded and obedient
to the Holy Spirit.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen”
