April 17, 2011
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He’s Given us an “A”
I am reading a book right now entitled Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss. It was written in the 1800′s and it is stuffed full of really good truth. I read a lot of it this past Friday. I also listened to three sermons online from our former pastor when we lived in the DFW area. By end of the day, I was on conviction overload. I wanted so badly to be receptive of all that I had taken in. I wanted to be good soil, yet before I knew what was happening, my conviction had turned to guilt. Realizing how far I was from the mark of Jesus-like perfection, left me feeling like I had been given my test back with a big, circled in red “F”.
Fortunately Stepping Heavenward addressed this feeling of self-frustration. I reminded myself what the wise Mrs E. Prentiss had said about focusing on self. Even if all of the focus is on my faults, I am still focusing on myself and that in turn will feed my love for self. My focus has to remain on my Savior who has crossed out all my red “F”s and made them all “A”s. Sanctification is just as much God’s work as salvation. Salvation comes by one prayer. Sanctification comes by daily prayer.
I heard God speak to my spirit on Friday morning. As I stood in front of the mirror washing my face He said, “You can fake it, or you can step up your game.” I knew what He was saying. I knew what He was wanting from me. It doesn’t have anything to do with trying harder to get an A. It is about recognizing in a more intentional way that God is my source.
….Surrendering my humanness and clinging on to His perfection.
…..Worshiping and Standing in Awe of who He is.
…..Telling Him (and myself) that I have nothing and can do no good thing outside of His mercy and grace.
Comments (5)
hi – i guess you’ve seen my ‘footprints’ all over your site recently : ) your adoption story/journey is what hooked me. one of your posts back in march where you talked about how ‘cheap & easy’ it is to get pregnant vs. how ‘expensive & hard’ international adoption is really familiar.
your children are lovely.
your song playing here is great.
i’ve enjoyed your pictures & words.
i’m happy to be friends : )
~ alli
great thoughts…
Love the red circled F analogy…boy do I feel that some days, and your thought that~that is still focusing on me…good stuff!
Happy Monday
appreciate what you shared from the book…and your thoughts as well.
i know about self-focus, wallowing in my F’s and gritted teeth effort.
that tends to be me.
sometimes i feel like i do the confession, repentance and asking for His forgiveness parts,
and then refuse to accept what He offers!!!
which so does.not.work.
and which is so.why.your post is a blessing in my day.
Wow! Wow! Wow!
This so completely connected with me and what I struggle with. Loved how you wrote this and about how you are learning to balance trying to become better IN CHRIST versus feeling like you’ve got an “F” on your paper.
And your pictures are beautiful, too!