Tag Archives: trust

Why Do We Feel the Need to Earn God’s Grace?

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Why do we feel the need to earn God's grace?

Why do we feel the need to earn God’s grace? Why is it so easy for us to forget God’s sovereignty? Every time I’m feeling out of sync and life seems to be going all wrong, I realize it’s because I’m not trusting God. I’ve forgotten that He’s trustworthy. Even after all He’s done.

It’s like He’s standing there, waiting for me to notice as He whispers, “Hello? Don’t you remember Me?”

When I’m truly and fully trusting God and His sovereignty, all my worries and concerns go out the window. My life flows like a gentle river, carrying only what’s necessary along with it. This is how God wants us to live. In collaboration with Him. In complete and total surrender to Him. And this is how I want to live, too. So why do I keep falling back to my old ways?

I think often, and unintentionally, we’re caught up in a life of striving. We feel overwhelmed by the demands that are placed on us (even the ones that we put on ourselves). Often this striving is subconscious and masked in the language of, “I’m just trying to do all that God has called me to do.” Or, “I don’t want to miss what God has planned for me.”

In reality, we’re only thwarting the gift of God’s grace. The gift that Jesus gave us, through total suffering and sacrifice.

Why do we feel that we need to earn God’s grace? Can we enjoy a gift if we refuse to accept it? Or if we set it aside until we “have time” to really absorb it? Or if we set a standard of perfection before we allow ourselves to open it? Of course not!

I don’t think we even realize that through our striving, we’re inadvertently trying to remove the title of Savior from Him and put a “Superstar” label on ourselves.

So let’s slow down and make room for the Spirit to lead us. Let’s savor the grace we’ve been freely given. Let’s spend our lives saying, “Thank you” rather than, “Am I worthy?” The more we slow down and actually savor grace, the more wisdom we gain to release the unimportant and steward only what’s necessary. Like a great, flowing river.

It is written, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)

Take Those First Steps

Posted on by under Conversations with God
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Take those first steps and trust in the Lord, for He is good and His love never fails.

Do you ever feel too uncertain, too afraid, to take those first steps? It is written, “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” (Psalm 112:7)

I don’t want you to fear bad news. I want your heart to remain steadfast, trusting in Me and My unfailing love.

Remember, My love isn’t based on your performance. So even when you stumble and fall, I love you all the same. Like new parents with their child, I joyfully applaud and cheer you on, as you learn to take baby steps while trusting in me. And when you reach out for me, I cannot resist coming to your aid.

I want you to trust me in the same way that a child trusts his parents. Unafraid to follow My lead. Trusting that I know and want what’s best for you. Boldly walking forward in the direction that I call you.

You know I am your safety net. And you know I love you even when you stumble. So take those first steps, my precious child. I’ll be right here beside you.

To grow in your walk with Christ, I highly recommend reading the Bible. If you have any questions about the Bible, http://www.gotquestions.org is a great resource.

Minimize Uncertainty

Posted on by under Daily Inspiration
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Wanting to minimize uncertainty is a common human tendency. But is it what we're supposed to do as believers?

Why do we have this tendency to try to minimize uncertainty? We’d rather put confidence in ourselves, in our own thoughts and understanding, then trust in God. But God told us not to rely on our own understanding. And He’s proven over and over again that He’s trustworthy.

Rather than attempt to minimize uncertainty, we ought to embrace uncertainty, as it’s during these very moments when the power of God is on full display in our lives. God uses our circumstances to mold us. Like a potter and his clay. Our lack of understanding brings us closer to God as we rely on Him wholeheartedly to guide us and carry us through life. Just as He intended.

To be fearful of our circumstances, and uncomfortable with our uncertainty, is simply a lack of belief in God’s providence.

To learn more about all God has promised to you, I highly recommend reading the Bible. If you have any questions about the Bible, http://www.gotquestions.org is a great resource!

Last night God asked me, “How much do you trust me?”

Posted on by under Conversations with God

Last night God asked me, “How much do you trust me?”

“A lot,” I said.

He laughed, as He often does. “Okay. But do you trust me enough?”

He continued, “Enough to stop worrying about time and how much of it you have? Have you not seen how My timing is perfect?

Enough to stop obsessing over your To Do list? What if I have better things for you to do?

When you pray to me, ‘Jesus, take the wheel’, do you really mean it? Will you let me?

Do you trust me enough to lay your head on the pillow at night, without your mind racing?

Will you accept My offering of peace?

Will you find your rest in Me?”

I sat, once again, dumbfounded in His presence.

“You say you trust me a lot, but is it enough?”

The Potter and the Clay

Posted on by under Conversations with God

It is written, “A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for everyday use from the same lump of clay.” (Romans 9:21)

Do not ask, ‘Why has this happened to me?’ or ‘Why am I this way?’ Don’t you know that I have made you? I don’t make mistakes.

You may not see the entirety of my plan, but I can. I am the Author and Finisher of your faith. Know that I am God. Not even one hair falls from your head without me knowing about it.

You want to be used by me? Well, like the clay in the hands of the potter, this requires complete submission to My will. Even when you don’t understand the why. My ways are higher than yours. Have I not proven that My ways are good?

Can You Imagine being Mary?

Posted on by under Christian Spirituality

It is written, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5) 

Can you imagine being Mary? Watching as your son is tortured? Feeling pain in the depths of your being as there’s nothing you can do to help? Then seeing him die on the cross…

When Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Do you think Mary knew of Psalm 22? That this would be the fulfillment of a prophecy? 

Do you think her heart sunk with thoughts of her son’s abandonment? Or of her own? Can you imagine the mix of emotions as she trusted in her son when He said, “I’ll come back”? Would he? Is revival actually possible?

What does it look like to wait in anticipation? To be faithful during the “in between”? Can our hearts be both broken and expectant at the same time? 

…Can you imagine being Mary?

Traveling Abroad Solo as a Female

Posted on by under Personal Life Reflections

solo female travel
I’m leaving soon for my first solo trip abroad. I’ve traveled abroad numerous times and traveled alone plenty, as well. But this will be my first time combining the two and I feel compelled to share some thoughts…

I love traveling alone because it teaches you to trust others, and more importantly, yourself and your intuition.

For me, doing it in a foreign country is exciting and just outside of my comfort zone. That’s how we grow and change. Not by doing outright risky things, but by knowing our limits and striving to stretch them, ever so gently.

Everyone has different boundaries, comfort zones, and accompanying beliefs. Here are mine (as they pertain to this trip):

I believe in living outside of your comfort zone.
I believe in the kindness of strangers.
I believe that experience is our greatest teacher.
I believe that when we act with boldness, mighty forces come to our aid.
And most of all, I believe in the God of angel’s armies (who has never once left my side:)

To be continued…

Quote about Entrepreneurship

Posted on by under Quotes

Everyone must begin to trust their dreams because out of that trust is born the artist, and the artist is the role model for the entrepreneur we now need. – Ernest Hall

Intuition

Posted on by under Daily Inspiration

It’s a strange thing when you start to feel better after thinking that you never would.

It’s even stranger when you want to love again after losing the love of your life.

A part of you screams, “No, you can’t! It’d be a betrayal.”

But another part of you, the better part of you, whispers, “Yes. Live again. Love again.”

There is no better way to honor yourself than trusting your intuition when it whispers.

Following Your Heart

Posted on by under Daily Inspiration, Quotes, Relationships & Love

“As you make a habit of not taking anything personally, you won’t need to place your trust in what others do or say. You will only need to trust yourself to make responsible choices.

If you keep this agreement, you can travel around the world with your heart completely open and no one can hurt you. You can say, “I love you” without fear of being ridiculed or rejected. You can ask for what you need. You can say yes, or you can say no – whatever you choose – without guilt or self-judgment. You can choose to follow your heart always.”

-Don Miguel Ruiz