Have you ever tried to be better than yourself – for God?
Have you ever tried to win him over by your acts of goodness?
I have.
I hate to say it, but I have totally tried to be the good girl, the impressive one. You know, the one who everyone says, “Wow, that girl has it all together.”
Even today, I tried my absolute hardest with my husband. He had told me what he needed and I was going to SO impress him. I was going to show him who’s boss! Who was “on it”!
Except for one thing, I’m not boss – God is. Sometimes, I need some reminders.
So, even though I stood ready to show off, in the end, all I ended up showing off was a wounded ego.
I fell down. I messed up again.
So often, the fact of the matter is that my best efforts are simply – bad. My best efforts lead me to confront my worst fears as devastation overwhelms me. It’s almost like I was expecting a blockbuster show, but ended up with a meaningless charade. My heart feels empty and my best efforts worthless.
“…and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” (Is. 64:6)
The prideful do fall. (Prov. 16:8)
Was God teaching the arrogant one who is boss?
Does God look down on me and chide me for who I am?
Does he look and say, “There she goes again, that Kelly, she can’t ever just trust me.”?
“She can’t ever do anything right. Sure, I love her, but really, get it together girl!”
When I immerse Word of God, I see he doesn’t condemn me – and he doesn’t condemn you either.
He sees more than a problem child.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (Eph. 1:5)
He sees more than a weak failure of a person.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made… (Ps. 139:14)
He sees higher than our continual mess-ups.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. (Is. 55:8)
He sees farther than our painful past – straight into a fresh future.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 43:19)
He offers us abundant power that far transcends our largest limitations.
He offers help and humility that conquers our greatest barriers.
He offers hope that leaves us the opposite of hopeless.
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)
We have extraordinary power – in Christ. He has poured his authority all over us. His power transcends mistakes, the past and circumstances. All through God, all the time, all the days, all weaknesses fade away and all love pours down on us from high.
Will we choose to see it? To embrace it? To live in his power? Or, will we live wishing God had given us something more?
