05.26.10
Posted in Fear of the Lord, Parenting at 4:58 pm by trisha
Often, I am consumed with my work, working out my faith, working on my home, family, tasks, whatever. My eyes are easily looking at what my job is and I lose sight of God’s work.
God is paying attention to me and is working on me.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Growing up without my father, my view of “dad” was full of uncertain and painful experiences with men who pledged short-term love to my mother, my sister and me. I grew cold to the desire for a dad. As I grew in Christ, my understanding of God the Father became more distant and theological than tender and personal. The thought that God is a faithful and loving Father seemed unreal. Yet, over time, I have learned to cling to him like a toddler pulling on her daddy’s leg.
When we view God through rotten experiences with our earthly parents, we project sinful characteristics on him—often without realizing it. Instead, we should start with knowing God and interpret life through the knowledge of him. I had it backwards.
He is a faithful Dad and delights in his kids.
Philippians 2:12-14 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
This is amazing! As I work out my salvation and delight in God I grow in worship. As I work, I am often nearsighted and only see only tasks and duties, yet God shows me that I do not work alone. He is at work—on me!—paying attention to the details of my heart. I can cry, “Abba,” and he hears. He never forsakes my need. He is not distant. He is near and his love is steadfast.
Psalm 147:11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
My heavenly father works on me and is pleased with me because of Jesus. As I repent of independence from him and instead walk in dependence, God softens the hard edges of my heart. I am his daughter, hoping in his steadfast love.
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05.03.10
Posted in Humility, Independence, Productivity, worship at 1:35 pm by trisha
My relationship with work is complicated. I don’t just work and worship. I tend to grab the glory for myself when I accomplish work and I tend to work by will power and self-sufficiency than humble dependence on God.
Just yesterday, I felt proud with all that I got done in the day. Pride sucks out the humility and my arrogance kills worship. Good thing God is patient to redeem my heart in this area!
What about you? Are you competent in your work? At the end of the day, are you pleased with your accomplishments? Does your “plate” seem manageable? Are you satisfied even if you didn’t get your work done? Are you proud if you accomplish or grumble if you don’t?
Arrogance can sneak in with our completed tasks. As the boxes are checked, pride can carry us to the next action item. The ambitious heart seeks the next challenge and self-sufficiency is commonly the energy that drives our achievements. Self-confidence and self-sufficiency is often what motivates, not worship and dependence on God.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
What does Godly confidence look like, then?
I can stand in confidence in God’s grace that I am a woman that Jesus loves. Jesus gives me all that I need as I depend on Him to complete (or not complete) my work each day. I can worship with confidence and competence, believing that I am not my work. My task list does not define me.
If I believe that the Holy Spirit is what drives me throughout my day, then I can stand confident even when there are incomplete tasks. My competence and confidence are not contingent on my accomplishments. My confidence is in Jesus and the work HE does, not my work. Jesus’ work on the Cross is what identifies me. He has made me competent to be a minister of the Gospel of Grace. Sometimes that means competence in completed tasks, other days competent in incomplete tasks, all the while needing Him to define my days for me.
God defines me, not my work. Grace feels wonderful.
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