I am half way through my 3rd HelloMornings Challenge. You can learn more about the challenge at http://www.hellomornings.org/. In the beginning…not that beginning…in the beginning of my 1st challenge #AboundingHope, the Lord was moving my heart to speak up. Share my faith in Christ. My hurts. My heartaches. My Hope. How the Lord has been so faithful and merciful to me. How He changed me and healed my broken heart. So I started speaking up by sharing my thoughts with my HM group, which seems simple enough but, it was a big stretch for me. And then I began to write. My second challenge #MeetJesus had me bursting out of my quiet shell by week 1. I am now in a whole new world of putting my heart out there, blogging away. Although I am 6 weeks in to #GloriousGrace this is the first time to link up. So here, we go!
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Applying Ephesians 3:1-13
Week 6 #GloriousGrace
I used to straddle the fence. What I mean is I use to say I believed who God says I am yet, on the inside I struggled with accepting and letting go of mistakes, failures and all things ugly. Worldly stuff. And I was stuck in a rut. I was not growing in my relationship with the Lord. Until I got to the end of my rope and I allowed the Lord to minister to me. And I let go. I accepted who He says I am and who He wants me to be. It came down to trust. I spent an entire year asking the Lord to help me trust Him at His word. Best.year.ever! The feelings certainly still come and go but I no longer allow my feelings to rule over me. I know the truth and I stand on it whether I feel it or not.
Paul says in Eph 3:8 II The Voice,
“I cannot think of anyone more unworthy to this cause than I…”
Pause.
Me, too, Brother Paul. Me.Too. But what God has planned for me --His purpose for me is not for me to question. I don’t know why He would use a person like me. But I do know this: I can waste way too much time and energy trying to figure that out; trying to do my best to be worthy for the cause OR I can chose to accept it. Grace that is. Every day. And I made my choice. I chose to abide in Him and accept His glorious grace which results in gratefulness. Which results in action. How can it not?
Paul goes on to say,
“But here I am, a grace-made man, privileged to be an echo of His voice…”
The result of the acceptance is enlightened heart eyes, privileged and honored to be a servant of the gospel; to be the voice He has called me to be. And what do I want to remember from this portion of the letter? I will remember that it’s not about me. It’s about what He will do through me. I am where I am at for a reason, for God's purpose according to the eternal purpose which was accomplished in Christ.
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Applying Ephesians 3:1-13
Week 6 #GloriousGrace
I used to straddle the fence. What I mean is I use to say I believed who God says I am yet, on the inside I struggled with accepting and letting go of mistakes, failures and all things ugly. Worldly stuff. And I was stuck in a rut. I was not growing in my relationship with the Lord. Until I got to the end of my rope and I allowed the Lord to minister to me. And I let go. I accepted who He says I am and who He wants me to be. It came down to trust. I spent an entire year asking the Lord to help me trust Him at His word. Best.year.ever! The feelings certainly still come and go but I no longer allow my feelings to rule over me. I know the truth and I stand on it whether I feel it or not.
Paul says in Eph 3:8 II The Voice,
“I cannot think of anyone more unworthy to this cause than I…”
Pause.
Me, too, Brother Paul. Me.Too. But what God has planned for me --His purpose for me is not for me to question. I don’t know why He would use a person like me. But I do know this: I can waste way too much time and energy trying to figure that out; trying to do my best to be worthy for the cause OR I can chose to accept it. Grace that is. Every day. And I made my choice. I chose to abide in Him and accept His glorious grace which results in gratefulness. Which results in action. How can it not?
Paul goes on to say,
“But here I am, a grace-made man, privileged to be an echo of His voice…”
The result of the acceptance is enlightened heart eyes, privileged and honored to be a servant of the gospel; to be the voice He has called me to be. And what do I want to remember from this portion of the letter? I will remember that it’s not about me. It’s about what He will do through me. I am where I am at for a reason, for God's purpose according to the eternal purpose which was accomplished in Christ.