Hebrews 6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
My two year old daughter has observed, enjoyed, and copied my 4 year old daughter’s every move the last few weeks. Lydia (the 2 year old) has learned the skill of imitation. More than funny, it is a ironic picture of my own imitating heart. She wants to wear Abi’s clothes, say what she says, prays what she prays, and even throw the same fits she throws. As I watch Lydia imitate, I am recognizing where I imitate those around me.
Sinful imitation for me is to think and act the way the world does about material possessions, beauty, relationships and roles. I easily slip into the sinful teen magazine foolish view of beauty and my body. Instead of seeing beauty through biblical lenses, I see it by imitating the false or sinful ideas from the world. Like Lydia, I watch and imitate with my behavior.
3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitateevil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
Lydia wants to be like Abigail. She admires her, she loves her. Whatever Abi does, in Lydia’s mind– is the best option. Her affection and adoration of Abigail controls her actions. Lydia’s imitation is worship. Over time, little Lydi’s heart will mature, her desires will change and our prayers are that her allegiance will be to God. Abi will continue to be a good example, as Abi’s life points to Jesus.
So I ask you, who do you imitate? As Paul and John in these scriptures (enabled by the Holy Spirit) urge us to- imitate Godly people- for the fruit of their life is worth imitating. They don’t mean imitate like Lydia does. When we merely copy someone, we are making a God out of them, worshipping them. But– if imitating someone is seeing their life lived in humility and worship, we can: learn from, be sharpened by, and enjoy the example that the Godly set By pointing us to Jesus. The purpose of imitating anyone is to draw us closer to Jesus.
Philippians 3:17 Brothers,join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walkaccording to the example you have in us.
My prayer is that the Godly people in my life would continue to be examples that continue to point me to my Jesus. And that I would humble myself to learn from them and be sharpened by them. I can imitate with the confidence that God is at work in my heart and HE is who I worship. I am thankful for the encouragement from God to bless me with people in my life to learn from and grow with.
I have been challenged recently by my husband to think of compassion and mercy not just during the Holidays, but all year round. And, as the I look outside and see frost on the windows, we are reminding our children of many people in our city without a warm home, or food to fill their tummies. As we all see needs at Christmas, I am provoked and grateful for a Savior that provides compassion and mercy.
How can I safely and age- appropriately teach and train my children to embrace their culture not just for the coolness of Seattle but lovingly observe and act when they see needs? Our children are paying attention to our actions and words. Whether it is seeing their dad go back in to a restarant with the lingering homeless man to buy him a meal or having a stock pile of “Cliff” bars in the glove box of the car for the street corner beggar, our kids are taking in how we respond to those in need.It is our responsibility to shepherd our children in mercy.
I want to teach them compassion Biblically. And, at Christmastime I want them to grow in gratitude for the countless blessings of family, shelter, and provision. My heart aches for the lonely, homeless, and suffering. As I look around at the many blessings in my life, I am humbled by God’s great love. I want to share it. But, more importantly want to act. God is Holy, Perfect, and Amazingly MERCIFUL to me. Out of this experience in my own heart, I long to share the Gospel of Jesus with others.
We see a lot of homeless wonder in to Mars Hill each week, and some stick around to learn and receive help. Other faces leave and we don’t see again and we wonder where they are now. Many suffering come to Redemption Night and/or go through Redemption Groups and by God’s beautiful grace are transformed by His love.
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Luke 14:13-14
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
I am challenged and inspired to pray about how this momma (me) can embrace this culture’s needs, with a heart full of burden, and missional passion. Wanting to share Christ with this culture, through mercy and humble acts of service…
I despise weakness… I get overwhelmed. Relational debt, housework debt and procrastinated project dread sneak up, drain the life out of me, and leave me feeling discouraged and flat out weak. Those overwhelming moments reveal my true weakness. Yet too often, I deny it. Blind with ambition, I reach for my bootstraps, pull myself up, and get back to work.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
My heart naturally resists depending on God when I’m weak. The noise in my heart, amplified by tough self-sufficiency, can drown out the Holy Spirit’s reminder: “my power is made perfect in your weakness.” …yet weakness is a gift. There are the times when his voice breaks through the noise and exposes my heart. It is a struggle to swallow my pride and obey, but it is in that turn of repentance—right in the midst of the mess—that I begin to hope again. The truth is that I am weak every second, not just when I feel overwhelmed. Jesus wants me to see that when I am overwhelmed, he is giving me a gracious gift: the ability to see more clearly my constant need for him. So rather than denying weakness, I can boast in it because it draws me closer to Jesus in worship. For example, the other day I was scurrying around the house getting stuff done, feeling very behind on my seemingly urgent tasks. Our third child invited me to play dolls. Pause. Graciously say no, or accept this opportunity to connect with my daughter? In the moment, my heart was faint, overwhelmed with my work. I thought, “I can’t play right now!” Yet, the Holy Spirit changed my thoughts to dependence and flexibility in my weakness. We had a great time playing. When I went back to work, my heart was more tender than it had been previously. Feeling overwhelmed is a signal to check my heart’s dependence on God. Am I softened to the Holy Spirit? Digging in to depend on God? Do I find my soul’s refreshment in God’s sufficiency? In these times, I’m learning to cling to my Savior, who accomplished perfect work on the cross and continues to save me from my sin. God meets me at the point of my prideful self-sufficiency and lovingly brings me to my knees in worshipful dependence. Worship through work is not just working hard for God’s glory; it is also in the attitude of humility, realizing how weak and unable we are. We can all grow in dependence on Christ and boast in our weakness. We must humble ourselves before the face of God and thank him for the gift of weakness.
Feeling distraught and invisible recently, I dramatically threw myself down on the couch at the end of the day and said to my husband, “You didn’t even see all the work I did today.” My husband said to me, “Well, sweetheart, God sees you.”
Duh.. Sometimes, our sinful need for praise from people invades our hearts and can make us easily forget that God does see us and is always present. It is his presence that is ultimately satisfying. Even the most sincere acknowledgment from those near us-is empty and gives no life.
Who we work for:
As I labor through all that God has called me to, I wrestle with various questions: Why do I work? Who do I work for? What is the pay off or reward for my work?
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
I look out at the audience from the stage of my life and I see many people who’s approval motivates my work to be well done. Fear of man is a sin that I am very familiar with, and by God’s grace am being changed into a woman who fears the Lord more.
Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
We are working for God. He has called us to work not for ourselves or others, but for him. God is not the image of the “boss” you have pictured or have experienced. He doesn’t give job-descriptions, interviews, reviews and bonuses, or lay people off. In fact, our work will never be perfect enough, our intelligence insufficient, our productivity never deserving of reward. We can’t reduce a Holy and magnificent God to our “box” of a supervisor. We have to stop serving God with a “work hard enough to please Him” mentality. He is not pleased with our work. All of our work is inadequate. God only receives perfect holy work, which ours can never be.
Why we work:
The good news is that for the believer, Jesus gives us his perfect job review, his flawless work, takes the test for us, and in his divine majesty clothes us with his righteousness, which is the precious inheritance. We don’t get the inheritance because we worked hard. It could never be enough. We will always fall short. God’s free and perfect saving grace is given to anyone who believes, no matter what the resume says. On the cross, Jesus took our work ethic, our fear of man, our shame, our pride, and paid with his life.
He gives us his holy spirit, who enables our lives to give glory to God. It is the Holy Spirit is who fills my heart with wonder and reverence through the mundane to the significant parts of my day. The Holy Spirit convicts me of sin and turns me the other direction. Work can only by worship enabled by the Holy Spirit.
No audience, no approval, no relationship, or productive day can compare to the gift, the inheritance of God’s grace in Christ Jesus. HE is my reward. Every dish, diaper, errand, relationship, act of service, sacrificial commitment, every job undone or well done, can be offered as an act of worship. Depending on God to accomplish His glory in us and through us is a glorious opportunity that we get! Work is worship not because it is done well. It is worship when my heart is tuned to the presence of a holy and loving God who is glorified by my dependence on Him in all that my hands are called to do. As I worship, my work is transformed from tasks to glory.
Work I understand. Rest- not really. The other side of work is REST and BOTH are amazing opportunities for worship. God has had me on a journey full of difficult twists and turns- learning how to depend on Him in my work, letting go of agendas, navigating through glory and repentance, and giving my roles to God as worship.
Genesis: 2:2
And on the 7th Day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the 7th day from all his work that he had done.
God rested.
We are finite creatures, unlike our Infinite God. He didn’t “need” rest, yet He rested. A whole day devoted to rest. He wasn’t weak or tired. He didn’t need to rest just to make it through to the next crazy busy week.
What if God rested out of pure love for his people- as an example to show us how to worship Him also by resting? He gave us a gift of His grace, by resting.
I don’t rest well. Work is my default and rest is more difficult for me to do. I work until I “need” to rest. Rest is more of a necessity rather than discipline most of the time. Rest feels like pleasure and is far too infrequent. Yet, God calls me to rest – not as an optional survival method.
How many of you when you rest, take the moments to enjoy God? Is your busyness stilled for a moment? Does your soul finds satisfaction in refreshment of God? And when you experience this soul rest, do you regret not resting more often? Exactly. That is why God established the Sabbath, to give us opportunity to worship Him, with disciplined rest.
Life swirls around us and we sometimes muster up the courage to grab some time to stop and rest. Schedules, tasks, duties, relationships, budgets, errands, ministry, friends, birthdays- all capture our attention. Swirling time and memories flash behind us.
If all of these moments were a race, what is at the end? What are we racing towards or for? There are many piles of work and the piles never go away.
We run faster and harder in this race of days to get through it all, yet what is getting my body in action? The sweat drips down and the busyness increases for what?
What is at the finish line? What is all this effort really about? Why do we strain to get through it all? No one seems to notice my straining, since everyone else running beside me is dripping with motivated strides.
Then, I stop and look around to get perspective. I see myself burdened with the a heavy load, perspiring, and about to cry from exhaustion. I see others doing the same. Some are setting down with tears of despair from the increased loads. There are some who are veering off the track to some other destination, a distraction of some sorts. Others, look peaceful as if they were all ready done. Just resting and glad about it. I look ahead and I see no finish line, even though I was promised it was right ahead of where I stopped! A race that never ends? What did I sign up for?
Thus is the race of our Christian faith. Specifically, my roles as wife and mother. What waits for me as my reward? What motivates my heart to work hard? Throughout the day, what drives me? What is my rest and peace? What are my eyes focused on?
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
God is the reward. He is the motivation. There is a finish line and our home in heaven is waiting for us. Bridging the gap of labor and my heart is worship. My effort is God- the Holy Spirit enabling me to do tasks because He has called me.
God wants me to run this race of life with endurance. He has set before me this body, this life, this heart to look to Jesus. I run hard for nothing if I am not looking to Jesus. Jesus is the why of my worship, the object, the reward.
Colossians 3: 23-24 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
I work my self up to a pretty great rhythm and my breathing seems right for the pace, then all of the sudden I get anxious at the hills ahead of me. My breathing starts getting more labored and my heart starts to get discouraged. I whisper, “ I can’t go any further.”
So, it is with work. Just as I get my house organized and the laundry caught up, I am staring at overwhelming and steep hills of work ahead of me. What keeps me moving forward growing in endurance? It can only be Jesus that moves me.
God is with me now, not just at the finish line. He is with me with every move I make, every thought, every tender feeling. He is the promised land, but I am already there. In Christ, I am both running towards Him and with Him.
As I run this laborious calling- my worship is increasing. My independence is decreasing. And.. I fall in to God’s precious arms, so that He can carry me the rest of the way.
borrowed from lifeaction.org; great site for devotional help. thank you!
Surveys indicate that most Christians spend five minutes or less each day in prayer. A meaningful time with God is vital to a vibrant spiritual life, but many don’t know how to get started. Here is a simple pattern for organizing a daily time with God. Spend five minutes on each of the following:
1. Confession. Sin is the greatest roadblock to prayer; early in your prayer time, confess—agree with God about your sin. (Psalm 139:23-24; 51:10-11; 1 John 1:9)
2. Praise. Dwell on God’s attributes. He is an awesome God! (Psalm 34:1-3; 63:3)
3. Waiting. Quiet your mind and heart before God; focus on Him, being quiet in His presence. (Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 40:31)
4. Scripture. As you open your Bible, ask God to bless you with concentration and understanding as you read His Word. (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 19:7-8)
5. Intercession. Develop a list of names of others to uphold in prayer. (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Psalm 2:8).
6. Petition. Make a list of your own personal needs, and check them off as God answers prayer. (Matthew 7:7; James 4:2)
7. Thanksgiving. Thank God for what He has done. We have so much to be grateful for! (Philippians 4:6; Psalm 100:4)
8. Singing. Sing Scripture back to the Lord, or use your favorite hymnal or worship CD. (Psalm 100:2; Ephesians 5:19)
9. Meditation. Actively ponder and digest a passage of Scripture or a character trait of God. (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-2)
10. Listening. Ask God for specific direction concerning the day’s activities. (1 Kings 19:11-12; Psalm 46:10)
11. Psalms. Read a psalm, and pray back portions to the Lord. (Psalm 95:2; 147:1)
12. Praise. You began your time with praise. What better way to end it? (Psalm 150:1-2; 50:23)
This past Sunday, we studied 1 Peter 4:12-19. Worshipping Jesus is depending on Him in the midst of it, growing in the knowledge of Him, and suffering to ultimately give God glory in our hearts. Jesus Christ is worthy of our worship. In everything. Including suffering. I pray that my heart would yearn as Paul’s did, to struggle well. I want to grow in vulnerability as the GOSPEL gets down deeper in my heart.
God is faithful to hold us in our struggles. He understands. He came into human history to identify with us and maintained His divinity. He was fully God and humbly lived as a servant and suffered. Jesus endured opposition at the extreme. The Holy Spirit gives me the capacity to believe this and walk thru suffering, comfort, and joy in my struggles.
I am grateful for a church family that is honest about suffering, repentance of sin, and the joys found in Christ. We can celebrate all that Jesus has accomplished on the cross- even in the midst of – especially in the midst of our suffering.
Feeling distraught and invisible recently, I dramatically threw myself down on the couch and said to my husband, “You don’t even see all the work I did today.” My Godly husband said to me, “Well, sweetheart, God sees.”
Duh.
I must admit that my audience is most often myself. Sometimes others, probably depends on who it is. That is where most of my sin lies, in pride. I work to please my own standard, not God’s.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
When Mike reminded me that God sees, I realized how easily and often I forget who my audience is. I do everything better when I know someone is watching. I clean my house better when someone is on their way to my house. I do my hair and make-up better when getting ready for a date. I correct my children more tenderly in front of a friend than I do alone with them. God sees those movements of my heart, the fact that in my sin, I turn up the quality when someone is watching.
YET God sees me constantly. I can’t hide my heart from him or my work.
God knows the number of diapers, messes, snotty noses for the day. God knows the moments where I have to stop and pray for self-control and gentleness to intervene in a sibling argument. He knows the details, tasks, choices, and little moments of service. He is watching closely as I manuver relationships, conversations, research, and how I apply and comprehend the gospel. He is watching to see if my theology merges with the everyday small interactions. God is paying attention to ME! He is in the details.
If God is watching, why am I so quick to forget his presence? If I am working for Him, why don’t I stop more often to acknowledge that? Repentance continues to be, turning up the quality because I work for Jesus! Redemption for me is dependence on Jesus and worship in my work. It is also growing in humility to comprehend my part in God’s story.
HE is watching me because he loves me and HE alone is the reward. Knowing Jesus Christ is enough. Praise from people sure feels great, but knowing the King of Kings, my savior sees me and chose me, is the inheritance that Colossians 3 speaks of.
I work for Jesus. He is watching and cheering me on. For His Glory. Not mine. I am so thankful for that. His grace teaches and instructs me to lean into Him today and see God watching.
We push ourselves and those around us to meet deadlines, routines, tasks, lists, and relational goals. We are surrounded by others like us: ambitious and aggressive. Too slow? YOU LOSE! Only the fast win and the longer you take to think about what you are doing, the farther behind you get. Results motivate and speed is our friend.
When you are overwhelmed, the tendency or temptation is to have decreased joy and more independence. Challenge produces an “I can do it” mentality. The challenge brings us to more strength in ourselves — or so it seems.
Or, maybe you are quick to give up. The challenges are too overwhelming and you throw your hands up sooner. You say, “I can’t ” and would rather lose than push yourself to accomplish the overwhelming reality that you are in.
You are tired of the stress, the pressure, and the strain. You have been in survival mode so long you don’t remember resting and enjoying peace. Sabbath? Forget it. There is too much to do, right?
When I am overwhelmed, my weaknesses are more evident to me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, formy power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so thatthe power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Being overwhelmed always sneaks up on me. Most of the time, work seems like manageable chaos. I get overwhelmed when I have housework debt and relational debt. I feel like I just can’t catch up and it stops being manageable. I start feeling like I am losing! My joy decreases and I pull myself up by my own bootstraps and get to work. Self- sufficient, Godless behavior kicks in. The challenge is a mission. I get tough and dutiful and feel proud at the finished work.My independent crown is shining bright while I strut my productivity streak in my heart. However, God is not invited into this picture.
Yet, it wasn’t me producing the work. It is always Christ enabling these good things. Jesus wants me to see that when I am overwhelmed, He is giving me a gracious gift. The gift is seeing my need for Him.
God, in His grace, shows me the independence and fear in my heart.Jesus offers forgiveness to me for my relationship with selfish ambition. The comfort of the Holy Spirit shows me that I am loved. Despite my tendency toward self-sufficiency, God shows me that He is sufficient.
I want to run more quickly to Jesus in total dependence. The state of being overwhelmed is a giant distraction for me and gets my eyes off the goal of my faith. Dependence on Christ while working hard is a continual act of repentance. When overwhelmed, I believe God wants my work to actually be the opposite of fast and aggressive. I think He wants tender and steady stewardship, trusting Him along the way.
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed like me, dig in and depend on Jesus.
Hebrews 4:14- 16 Since then we havea great high priestwho has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priestwho is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has beentempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
As you dig in and depend, remember that God’s grace is lavished on you even before the work is done.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesusfor good works, which God prepared beforehand,that we should walk in them.
Worship through work is not just working hard to God’s glory. It is especially when we realize how weak and unable we are to do our work. We grow in dependence on Christ and boast in our weakness. We must humble ourselves before the face of God and thank Him continually for GRACE.
When do you work and when do you engage with those around you? Do you struggle with resentment when trying to be productive and a relationship presents itself? When do you choose to play or relax when you should orneed to accomplish something? Are you more lazy or are you too busy with work? These questions should poke at you! If you have been reading this past year at all, you know that I am more likely to work than play.
For me, I am more likely to obsess over a clean and orderly home than chill out and take a break from work. Repentance isn’t always the opposite of my behavior, however. Tasks can easily become more important to me than people. Change doesn’t mean that I abandon tasks and instead sabbath all day, everyday. Change is having a soft heart (awareness of God directing my actions and emotions) and know each day, each action, what is the better thing. Change is slow for me, and over time I am beginning to see my work not just tasks, but also relationships. Worshipping Christ in my work is also recognizing the people around me in my life as I work!
Here are some examples of straightforward tasks:
Cleaning
Cooking
Errands
Budgeting
Shopping
Email: calendaring, projects
Here are some examples of relationship moments:
Time with God, reading, journaling, praying
Dates with the kids
Playing with them: toys, sports, boardgames
Dates at home or away (full atttention) with spouse
Emails that communicate encouragement or affection
Out with a friend
Phone call
Serving someone in need of mercy
Urgent prayer in person or on the phone
When do tasks merge into relationships? Can relationships become tasks? Is it OK for me to “accomplish” or be “productive” with a relationship? Can I put relationship time on my “list?” Is it cold to think of a person as a task? Can I do work items with my husband or child and “kill two birds with one stone?” I have done this a lot while talking on the phone while the kids are napping. I will clean like a mad woman while catching up with a friend. Multi-tasking is great! Yet, I miss it if I am more interesting in the task than the person present with me.
Hmm. I think as long as I step forward in repentance to worship God in my work, this is one layer to the journey! As I continue to grow in humility, by God’s grace, I am finding that there is NO FORMULA! Shoot! Humility and maturity for me right now is growing moment by moment, being led by God, letting go of control, and moment by moment discerning like Mary (in Luke Chapter 10) what the Greater Portion is.
For your own pondering and conversing:
In your daily routine, what gets the most attention?
What thing that you can’t get to during your day, triggers anger?
Do you give some people more heart attention than others, why?
God is the Master laborer. I am part of his labor! My heart is full of amazement this week as I meditate on:
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.
Working out our salvation with fear and trembling: this is awe and reverence rather than panic and alarm. My ESV Reformation Study Bible says- the right emotions are stirred by the presence of God. This salvation in the full, redemptive sense with particular stress on the sanctification of the believer. The sanctifying process calls for obedience.
God who works in you:While we are fearing and trembling at God’s presence, God is actively paying attention. He is taking notes on us, thinking, knowing us, arranging things for us, and lovingly guiding the whole universe to work according to his plan for each of us.
CAN YOU BELIEVE- that the same Lord who placed the stars in the sky and imagined and created every living creature, is watching us, loving us, and working things out for us? I am in awe at the hugeness and personal-ness of our God. I love it that God works for his own satisfaction, glory, and pleasure. He is Holy in His pursuit of His own glory.
I explained this to my boys this week that God is thinking about them. I told the boys how I have a journal that I take notes on my kids and how to best shepherd them, what they are going through in their lives, and how to encourage, serve, protect, etc. I am doing a fraction of the detailed work of shepherding the hearts of my kids, compared to the work of God in our hearts. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and perfect.
For His Good Pleasure: I set here and try to picture God’s pleasure. What does that look like? Is he laughing in delight in heaven? Is his pleasure like sunshine rays coming through clouds? What does it look like for God to will and to work for his good pleasure?
I love that God delights in his work and I am one of his works, that he delights in, knows, loves personally, and works things out for my good, ultimately giving himself glory.
I do not work on my own, it is God willing and working with His magnificent power and attention to details of my heart. As my heart worships God-replacements (idols) less over time, I am at a place where that “fear and trembling” is more frequent and my heart is full of adoration and is completely awestruck!
Ephesians 2:10Forwe are his workmanship,created in Christ Jesusfor good works,which God prepared beforehand,that we should walk in them.
A few posts back, I wrote about God’s grace at work in my work. I have been meditating on that for awhile and the above verse.
I am amazed that as I am stewarding many things and people, God is working on me. He has prepared work for me to do. Every task, every relationship, God has prepared in advance specifically for me to do- unto His glory.
I am God’s workmanship, not just the work that he has for me to do. I am a work for him. Get it? As I grow in Christ, repent, mature, suffer, experience abundant grace in my life, I am a work.
It is interesting, I despise feeling like a “project” and am aware when I have made people “projects” in my life- out of a sinful place of self-righteousness. I don’t want to be anyone’s project! Yet, as a child of the King, I am his project, that is what being made holy is all about.
As I ponder, being God’s workmanship, I am humbled that I am far from being a finished project. God sees me and He sees much sin still.
The awesome news is: that when God sees me He doesn’t see just me, He sees Christ over me. He is my identity and His righteousness is MINE. The pressure is off! GOD doesn’t see just a work in progress- a continual project (me)- God sees Christ a finished work (because of the miraculous work on the cross) for me.
I love that I am a project, now. I pray that as I work on my smaller projects here on earth- I will continue to be humbled by this truth.
I am exhausted. Weary. Emotionally. Physically. I am fighting for my time with God and straining to keep my eyes on Him thru meditation, prayer, a soft heart to listen to His voice.
Weariness sets in and the temptation with it is to lose heart.
Hebrews 12: 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Do I see Jesus thru my weariness? God tells me in this verse to consider Jesus who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that I will not grow weary and lose heart.
If I fix my eyes on Jesus, my heart is able. My heart is able to give, love, focus, and worship.
In my distraction- my heart loses focus. My vision is blurry. Fixing my eyes on Jesus makes me see 20/20. And everything lines up.
Jesus is the only hope for the weary, for my weariness.
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Some people assume that since we are a people who are totally depraved, the issues of the heart will only reveal sin, so what is the point of delving into the motivations of the heart? The point is not to explain or prove sin. I know I am a sinner. Yet, in understanding my heart and my sin, the Gospel is real. I see my continual need (desperate need) for a redeemer, to wash my heart, clean. Only Christ can make that happen.
While, I am “in Christ,” as a Christian, my life is a battle to claim His righteousness and to walk in repentance for sin. To celebrate what Jesus has done on the cross for me and you.
Take my work: Two distinct motivations could alter my behavior dramatically. Fear of man and fear of God. Both can produce the same behavior yet my heart is not changed.
If I have a heart motivator of fear of man in my work, this is what my heart looks like:
driven to please others
concerned with outward appearances more than love and inward affections
performance to impress: my kids, my husband, my friends, family, etc.
controlling environment attain a false satisfaction
controlling people to attain a false contentment
using things and people to make my self feel good about myself
caring too much about the opinion of others or myself
unrealistic standards for home, productivity, relationships that is law driven not Grace driven, legalism!
producing results for praise from man
doing tasks for accomplishment and duty
These heart motivators produce:
Unrighteous anger for any block from standards or productivity to happen.
Disappointment when praise from man doesn’t happen
Bad feelings about self- when tasks don’t happen
inflexibility, irritability
shame if identity rests on performance
In contrast, thru repentance fear of God in my work looks like:
desiring first to please God in work
aware of God in the details
depending on God in the details
gentleness and self control
quiet whispers of prayers when confrontation of interuptions happen
tender-hearted conversations that come at the suprise moments
giving God the credit in my heart for a completed task or simply Him enabling me to do anything
showing people near me my need for Christ to do anything
confessing sin quickly
These heart motivations produce:
Meekness
Humility
Self-control
Kindness
Love
Worship
Just to name a few!
Again, my battle, my war with work is to WORSHIP my God in my work. To see Jesus in my laundry, my children’s eyes, to love Jesus with my hands and most importantly, my heart!
I feel richly blessed to have a husband who is always brewing something in his head. He will disappear into a warp zone in his head and later I find that he has outlined a whole sermon. Yesterday, we had a coffee date and he preached to me, it was very romantic. I love his heart and how God talks to him. He isn’t one to zealously or enthusasically share his thoughts or teach me or others, when uninvited. Yet, if he is invited, prepare yourself for insight that changes you. God has gifted him with knowledge and the ability to communicate it well. He has taught me and inspired me, yet he is a prudent man. He has taught me over the years by his example to be cautious and obedient to Christ as to when and what to share with others. He worships in humility and prudence with his mind.
Proverbs 12: 23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.
This verse cuts at my heart. While, I am a passionate woman, I continue to be prone to speak my mind, heart, knowledge, insight, etc. Even as I blog, it is a matter of prayer. I go thru a process as I study–to desire Christ be glorified and not me, to be prudent with my knowledge and my heart.
Worship is prudence sometimes, because it takes the humility, dependence on Christ, a desire for God’s glory and not self, to RESTRAIN my lips, or in most cases, to RESTRAIN my fingers typing.
Worship is prudence if it brings my mind in submission to Christ and the joy that brings.
My sin of giving my attention to tasks more than giving my attention to the eyes and hearts of those in my home hangs out in my heart daily.
God is at work. This is one reason why I am blogging this topic to show the journey of my repentance, to process, to practice writing more, to share with strangers, to not be motivated for feedback, to ultimately give God the glory for any of my heart change.
I am a list maker. My outlook calendar usually just has appointments/meetings/outings on it. My daily list has a schedule for the day. Starting at 6 am and ending at 10- on my list are all the things I want to accomplish. The first things I usually put down are the house chores. Second, my exercise and reading goals for the day. Thirdly, I glance at the schedule and see if there is room for leisure, like a nap, or more reading…
ON SOME DAYS, I remember to put down on the list things like: play little people 30 minutes, shoot hoops with Henry, set up fort downstairs for boys, etc. I have been so busy in the last few weeks, I have neglected playing with my children. I can so easily go into caretaker mommie, that I only take care of them and don’t also enjoy them, thru play, and relationship. This is HUGE for me.
Remember, Martha’s sin, my sin? My default tendencies are just like Martha’s in Luke 10, to be distracted with much, busy, yet not choosing the “good portion” at the right time. I have countless opportunities throughout my day, to stop and choose the hearts of my kids. I don’t want to just “manage” my children and house. These moments when we giggle together, play a board game together, when I play dolls with my daughter and use pretend voices, run races in the yard together, have impromptu puppet shows, those are the moments that the kids treasure, and yet those are not my first desires. Surviving the day, as I have blogged is maintaining work so constantly so to not accrue house debt.
Honestly, God has to be yelling at me to sometimes HEAR HIS VOICE to stop working and play. So, tomorrow- on my daily list will be play with each child their choice of toy/game. I don’t believe that God wants me to legalistically place play on my list each day, yet the sin I am convicted of right now suggests that am aware of God’s grace to give me the gift of time with my children. God is renewing my desire and my satisfaction in worshipping Jesus in work and THIS is YET ANOTHER act of seeing God.
1. In a cordial manner; with warmth and sincerity: She greeted us heartily.
2. With zest or enthusiasm.
3. With great appetite or enjoyment: eat heartily.
Colossians 3:23-25 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Do I work- Heartily? What is my heart like when I work? What am I thinking when I am working? Sometimes, I am thinking how good it feels to have rescources like appliances to load dishes and clothing, other times I am thinking “is it really possible to dirty this much???”
Thankfull thoughts cultivate a heart towards “working heartily.”
When Mike and I are around the house and getting on each others nerves a bit, we have over the years played a very decisive game we made up, called, the ” Thankfulness Game.” We take turns saying things that we are thankful for. God enables us to see Him in our surroundings as blessings and changes our hearts to acknowledge him, which is WORSHIP.
I try to play the thankfulness game in my head when overwhelmed with duties, tasks, jobs at home. As God sees my struggle and my desire to depend on Him, He enables my heart to worship Him in it. As I observe God in my work, my praying heart starts to rest and is more peaceful.
Working hard doesn’t always produce a heart that works Heartily.
Imagine Martha again, working hard, fast, and bitter. Heartily, again for GOD not for man’s approval or even our own approval.
My prayer is that as God continues to show me my sin with work, that my heart be FULL of thankfullness for hands to work, eyes to see, and the grace from God that enables any fruit that comes from my hands…
So much of our world tells us to be strong, independent, and confident. I grew up built on the foundation of independence and self-worth, and an ambitious feminism that gave me gigantic false confidence. Slowly, but surely, in God’s great love for me- He is changing my heart.
When I am in need- I am SO VERY SLOW to depend on Christ. When I am weary…
Matthew 10: 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus is my example for Dependence:
Periodically, I think of my Lord Jesus, as a baby. I marvel at the Incarnation. Wrapping my brain around that point of theology- could possibly take years. Nonetheless, I imagine Jesus sometimes as a young boy- because I have two sons. Sometimes we talk about Jesus as a son and how he never sinned, so he never got a spanking. My kids love to hear that, it gives them hope! He was the best brother and son anyone could ever want. As a mom, as a Christian, I am amazed that God came as a man- I can imagine Jesus as a baby, boy, then man. Still God-yet in his youth- fully dependent on Mary and Joseph- stewards of God.
As I care for my baby, I am humble by her “deep need” for me. Her survival is based on my caring for her. I provide her food, clothing, soap, nurture, comfort, kisses, etc. Her dependence keeps her alive! Gradually, she gains independence, which is good. Physically, she can start to care for herself. Like my oldest son, who showers himself, gets his own breakfast, dresses himself, and anything else I would like for him to do himself, he is capable. I like that! But, my husband and I desire our sons and daughters to still “depend” on us. We want them to gain understanding on how to live, function, work, but in their hearts depend on God. Emotionally, we pray that they depend on us, need us, long for sweet relationships, deep connection, and evenutally we will enjoy adult friendship with them.
Jesus is my example for how to depend on God. He matured physically yet he still depended on His father. Though, I am a sinner, Jesus still wants my dependence. It is worshipful for me to offer my weakness, boast in them, and with empty hands offer my dependence as worship.
When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus appealed to Father and quoted scriptures to fight against Satan. Jesus, again is the example for dependence. Jesus being God shows me that while he was a incarnate, He showed his dependence on His father.
God wants me to BOAST in my WEAKNESSES.
Most of the time, weakness and dependence are interchangeable for me. Yet, as Christ shows me my needs- He is showing me that it is could to boast in my weakness and needs- so that I will boast in my insufficiency and HIS AMAZING sufficiency.
1 Corinthians 10:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Boasting in my weaknesses is worship? I must admit I am not capable to “do” my life. But, “in Christ, ” I am. I must confess that the weed of independence robs my heart of security God offers me. Independence is a lie. Dependence is worship.
Dependence on Jesus is increasing in my heart- quietly and consistently and it whispers I believe that Jesus is ABLE, FAITHFUL, and in my worship- I get to depend on GOD.
Feeling distraught and invisible recently, I dramatically threw myself down on the couch at the end of the day and said to my husband, “You didn’t even see all the work I did today.” My husband said to me, “Well, sweetheart, God sees you.”
