You know, the older I get, the more I find that I’m not as invincible as I once thought. Yep, I’m ‘vincible’! Okay, so I looked it up, and it’s not a word – but hey, people are making up words all the time. So today, I’m vincible!
I’ve found that my old successes in life were, of course, ordained by my Father in Heaven, and yet, they were founded in my “old man”. They were the product of self. And they were fashioned by my hands with my goals in mind. Oh, how I loved to create things and make myself, my home, and my family just the way I desired them to be! I was born of the seed of man and raised in the hotbed of the feminist revolution.
My mother was part of the first generation that purchased dinners in a box and sung jingles to remind themselves that they could ‘bring home the bacon’ and be their own woman. And so my life was forged in a home that taught me to be strong, be courageous, and never be dependent on anyone. Yep, not even a man – especially a man. Yikes, that’s a difficult place to come from when you enter the Kingdom of God!
Still In Training
Well, I’ve had over twenty years to learn my Lord’s ways. And I can definitely speak of the wonders of finally letting go and letting Him rule my life. (Well, in many areas of my life – but I’m still in training, like we all are.) And it is the most wonderful place to be!
Can I tell you the trick to get there? Can I give you 12 steps to freedom in Christ?….
That’s a big NO……
….for God will use various ways to bring us to our knees and before His throne! But I can tell you how to begin to see the fruit of a life lived for Him and not yourself.
Daily, hourly, constantly – devote yourself to prayer and being in His presence. Oh, I know, you’re probably saying – “but I’m so busy,” or “but I have children underfoot all day,” or “but my husband doesn’t help and my minutes are overbooked!”. But – but – but……
Oh, my friend, I’ve been there. The “buts” have filled my vocabulary over the years – to the point of missing God’s best for my life, my marriage, and my family.
All I can say is, stop making excuses:
- For not being in the Lord’s presence.
- For not praying while you change that diaper, or drive to work, or help your ailing parent.
- For believing that you can make your world, your home, your marriage, your children – better than God can.
With God all things are possible. But the key word there is – with God! Trust Him for the outcome of your obedience.
Severe Mercy
I spent so many years thinking that because I went to church, read my Bible most days, had great discussions with my Christian friends, and interacted with fellow homeschoolers, all things would be possible. Yes, our life is wonderful because of those activities, and they gave our family a great foundation. And yet – only with the power, the foundation, and the confidence of being imbedded in Christ, united to my God, and relying on the Holy Spirit – are all things truly possible!
So what am I saying? Take each day and give it to God. Take each moment and seek to find what God is doing In it! You’ll be surprised to find Him there, urging you to know Him better. You’ll someday be glad to know that the pain, discouragement, or frustration you suffer is actually a wonderful, “severe mercy” that draws you closer to Him.
And, of course, that’s His goal. He wants you to kneel before His throne, leaning on His strength, depending on His counsel. Daily, hourly, constantly!
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19
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