I'm learning something very important right now.
Has God ever taught you a lesson like 4 times in a row in different ways and it still doesn't click until...it does? I am so blessed by His patience and mercy with me.
Read it again.
God is the one who changes hearts. It is his Spirit that moves inside of the deepest parts of us and changes us from the inside out. To the point where we can no longer recognize ourselves. It is Jesus. It is God.
Yet, I find myself trying to put my fingers in the clay.
"But God, I can help You. I can."
The only "But God" that I need to pay attention to is "But God, who is rich in mercy..." That, is what is the focus. I heard once at a conference that the story of earth is called History for a reason. His + story. I am an extra in a grand tale of love, faithfulness, and heartache.
In no way do I mean to say that I am not important in the eyes of God or in His story. What I mean to say is that I, Elizabeth, am not the main character of the story. Not even of my own life. If I were the main character the story would be filled with hopelessness and doubt. But, with God in the starring role there is hope and redemption. There is peace.
When we are the main character of the story it is up to us in a way, to be the best. All of the pressure is on us. We have to act a certain way, talk, be, do, all of it. Everything must be perfect. Yet, because of the fall of man, there is nothing innately perfect about me. Only the Jesus within me.
In fact, when I was in youth group the other night with my students the speaker said something that hit me so deeply.
"Living a life of legalism is walking away from God."
For all of our trying to get close to him, and all of our doing just the right things -- it doesn't work. That very lifestyle pulls us away from the reality and the character of God.
When I sin, I have two options. The first choice is in line with legalism, I can sit up straight and swear I'll never do it again and just try really hard, hoping and praying that God will forgive me (or even knowing that God will forgive me and therefore brushing it off) or I can fall into grace and to my knees in worship, repenting and growing deeper with God.
I tell you what guys, the speaker that night at youth group was reading my mail! He said that the life of grace allows you to fall back into worship when you sin and the life of legalism is what drives you away from God. My trying to save myself, is what leads me away from God.
I don't know who reads these or what situations you're facing. But, I do know this: the sin in your life is not a surprise to God. He's not confused or freaked out by what you've done or even what you will do. It says in Romans that while we were yet sinners...we were in enmity with God, full on partners with the world --Jesus came and died.
God doesn't need us to be perfect so we can save our neighbors or be allowed into heaven or any of that. It is our imperfections that rub against one another to create polished silver. For some reason, God chose relationships to be the medium through which he shapes and forms us into the image of his son. He makes beauty out of ashes.
I implore you, don't let sin take another day, another hour, another minute away from your relationship with Jesus. Don't let the guilt you "should feel" or the guilt you do feel push you away from God. Yes, sin is ugly and can not be tolerated but Jesus came to pay the price for all of it.
I promise you the enemy will try to make you feel stupid for not figuring out sooner, or he will tell you that it's too late, you don't have what it takes, he will tell you anything to make you feel like God can't handle whatever you've got going on.
Push through. A broken and contrite heart will never be despised. Repent and walk with me towards God in humility and not away from him in legalism.
Has God ever taught you a lesson like 4 times in a row in different ways and it still doesn't click until...it does? I am so blessed by His patience and mercy with me.
God is the one who saves people.
Read it again.
God is the one who saves people.
Yet, I find myself trying to put my fingers in the clay.
"But God, I can help You. I can."
The only "But God" that I need to pay attention to is "But God, who is rich in mercy..." That, is what is the focus. I heard once at a conference that the story of earth is called History for a reason. His + story. I am an extra in a grand tale of love, faithfulness, and heartache.
In no way do I mean to say that I am not important in the eyes of God or in His story. What I mean to say is that I, Elizabeth, am not the main character of the story. Not even of my own life. If I were the main character the story would be filled with hopelessness and doubt. But, with God in the starring role there is hope and redemption. There is peace.
When we are the main character of the story it is up to us in a way, to be the best. All of the pressure is on us. We have to act a certain way, talk, be, do, all of it. Everything must be perfect. Yet, because of the fall of man, there is nothing innately perfect about me. Only the Jesus within me.
In fact, when I was in youth group the other night with my students the speaker said something that hit me so deeply.
"Living a life of legalism is walking away from God."
For all of our trying to get close to him, and all of our doing just the right things -- it doesn't work. That very lifestyle pulls us away from the reality and the character of God.
When I sin, I have two options. The first choice is in line with legalism, I can sit up straight and swear I'll never do it again and just try really hard, hoping and praying that God will forgive me (or even knowing that God will forgive me and therefore brushing it off) or I can fall into grace and to my knees in worship, repenting and growing deeper with God.
I tell you what guys, the speaker that night at youth group was reading my mail! He said that the life of grace allows you to fall back into worship when you sin and the life of legalism is what drives you away from God. My trying to save myself, is what leads me away from God.
I don't know who reads these or what situations you're facing. But, I do know this: the sin in your life is not a surprise to God. He's not confused or freaked out by what you've done or even what you will do. It says in Romans that while we were yet sinners...we were in enmity with God, full on partners with the world --Jesus came and died.
God doesn't need us to be perfect so we can save our neighbors or be allowed into heaven or any of that. It is our imperfections that rub against one another to create polished silver. For some reason, God chose relationships to be the medium through which he shapes and forms us into the image of his son. He makes beauty out of ashes.
I implore you, don't let sin take another day, another hour, another minute away from your relationship with Jesus. Don't let the guilt you "should feel" or the guilt you do feel push you away from God. Yes, sin is ugly and can not be tolerated but Jesus came to pay the price for all of it.
I promise you the enemy will try to make you feel stupid for not figuring out sooner, or he will tell you that it's too late, you don't have what it takes, he will tell you anything to make you feel like God can't handle whatever you've got going on.
Push through. A broken and contrite heart will never be despised. Repent and walk with me towards God in humility and not away from him in legalism.
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