It started with this prayer, “Lord, I want to be the best Daddy in the world, but first I need to be the best husband in the world, and before I can do either of those, I’ve gotta be the best man in the world.” Immediately, God stopped me (He responds when we listen) and said, “No. You don’t have to be the best at each of those. You just focus on being the best YOU and I will take care of the rest.”
What a beautiful picture of His grace! He loves me enough to speak to me personally, but He also loves me enough to say, “Hey dude–slow your roll! Show yourself some of that messy grace you’re always preaching to others. Roll around in it. Get covered up in it. And realize that your perfectionistic expectations of your self are often quite different than Mine.”
I love how God reminded me this morning to focus on grace, not goodness. He wants me to be me–just the best I can be at it. He’s got everything else handled.
He covers the shortcomings.
His strength is made perfect in my own weakness. His strength is His grace.
It’s more about redemption than regulation.
ATTIC,
Steve
•Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. (Galatians 5:25, 26 MSG)
Great prayer, God bless you.
Thank you!
Pingback: Speak, O Lord | Kevin Nunez
This really got me thinking this morning… in a hundred different directions and a hundred miles an hour. My brain settled on this- a tiny swatch of fabric with a needle stuck through and a piece of thread dangling, and a prayer. It was a “take-away” from a sermon my friend Lynn preached and it has been stuck on the mirror of my chifferobe for years. What if this was everyone’s prayer every hour of every day – “Lord, You be the needle and I be the thread. You go first, and I will follow wherever You may lead. Amen. Prayer of a Congolese Christian ” Wonderful blog my friend!
This is beautiful! Poignant. I will preach with this illustration SOON! Sometimes His heart and my brain just do NOT line-up! It is not always easy to be the thread for His needle (even today), but I love Him all the more! And I love you, sweet friend.
:) Right back atcha.