Here it is... One of the sweetest verses for a Mama who needs to remember that she is enough, because He is enough...
"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 MSG
Earlier in chapter 2 of Galatians, Paul talks again about the sweet way that the Lord orchestrates the most perfect plans for His kids. He is at work in all of us who are longing and living for Him. And I am pleading with Him that He would teach this heart of mine to not only be satisfied, but to actually delight in the work He has given me on this day, at this time, in this place.
For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. Galatians 2:8
It's strange to me how attractive a humble confidence can be...
I love Paul's confidence.
The Lord, "was at work in Peter... and He was also AT WORK IN ME."
There is no pride here. He's simply saying how it is... God is at work in all of us.
Lord, grant me a humble confidence in the work of your hand in my simple life?
I just finished reading this treasure of a book last night. Thank goodness I am not the only woman who has wrestled with the Lord the way that I've wrestled these past twenty years.
And it has become clear to me that the Lord is using so many avenues in my life to hammer this one lesson in deep... the lesson being that He is the one who does the transforming in the Christ-followers life. The job of the Christ-follower is to joyfully and confidently cooperate with whatever He chooses. And the strange part is that the cooperating also includes wrestling. We are to WORK out our salvation. Our faith is not passive. We are actively involved, asking questions, stepping into each of our moments with anticipation and expectation that He will do in us what He says that He'll do in us.
As I type, the revelation seems maybe to be obvious.And maybe to most Christ-followers, it is? But in raw honesty, today as I read it again and again, it has been like an on switch in my deepest insides...
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{A conversation between two women, one older and wiser, with one newly-married and seeking. From this book.}
"But do you see with equal clearness that your sanctification must be as fully His gift as your salvation is?"
"No," I said after a little thought. "I have had a feeling that He has done His part and now I must do mine."
"My dear," (the older woman) said with much tenderness and feeling, "then the first thing you have to do is to learn Christ."
"But how?"
"On your knees my child, on your knees!"
I'm so thankful for books. I'm so thankful for those who have walked with Him before me and I'm so thankful for those who wrote down their struggles and weren't afraid to share them with the world. These people that I've never met, play such a powerful role in my walk with the Lord.
This life is strange sometimes.
The thing that I want the very most, often times feels to be the thing I understand the very least.
And that's okay.
I'll just keep moving forward into whatever He gives.
And on my knees, I'll thank Him for these days when something that has seemed hazy for quite some time, has become so happily clear to this daughter of His...
My sanctification is just as much a gift as my salvation is.
I'm cooperating, but I'm not leading. I'm moving forward in conviction, not in condemnation. I'm resting in Him because His promises are trustworthy. How refreshing? :)
And there really is never a need to compare or compete, for His plan for each of us is more than enough to sustain our hearts while on this earth and to make our lives more than we could ever think or imagine. Really! No matter where we are, or what we're doing, He's got us, and He's transforming us, and He loves us like nobody's business!
It can't get much sweeter than this. :)
