"You who are TRYING..."

"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope."

Galatians 5:4-5

Trying

Striving

Conforming

Performing

Excelling

Compelling

It's all a race to the finish line, right? Or, at least to the end of the week...

Even if I'm not racing with other people, I am definitely racing myself -- for some reason I feel the need to beat my "record" from last week & do more, be better, think smarter, walk faster, wake up earlier, and please every person I meet along the way.

This need for "bigger & better" is definitely cultural, no doubt. But I think it's more than just a result of Western culture. It's also a result of the fallen (sinful) nature of mankind. It comes from this deep root in our hearts to look out for ourselves and come out on top.

Even though it often seems this is our only option - survival of the fittest? - God set a NEW way of doing things when He gave His Son, Jesus. 

Check out Galatians 4:21-31 where Paul explains the difference in living as children of the slave woman and the free woman, referring to Hagar and Sarah. (See also, Genesis 21 for the full story.)

God's new way of doing things relies less on the law and more on His grace, mostly because Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (the law -- the verse goes on to say that we "are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.") There is no way ever that we could muster up righteousness on our own. And yet we continue to strive for it all the time. It's a futile expedition.

Take a look at Galatians 5:4-5 again -- and let the Spirit of Truth revolutionize your world!!!

*with Kailene's amplified notes in brackets

"You who are trying to be justified by law [accepted/approved of/affirmed by following the rules and doing the 'right thing', checking skills/tasks off on a list] 

have been alienated from Christ; [separated, distanced]

you have fallen away from grace [God's grace becomes ineffective when we choose to live by the LAW rather than GRACE. When we don't receive the free gift of grace, we negate Jesus' death on the cross. It's not that grace is no longer offered or that we "lost our chance." This is when we do not live in the freedom of God's grace. See Gal. 5:1]

But by faith we eagerly await [how?] through the Spirit [what?] the righteousness [from CHRIST alone!] for which we hope." [We tend to try to create our own righteousness by living solely by the law -- legalism at it's finest.]

The truth of the Gospel packed in these two verses is more refreshing to my soul than I could even say! I am so thankful for new revelations of truth... and I pray that God's would use His word to speak to your heart, too.

NOTHING, but the Blood of Jesus. All my righteousness, Jesus in me.

1. What can wash away my sin?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   What can make me whole again?
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
   • Refrain:
     Oh! precious is the flow
     That makes me white as snow;
     No other fount I know,
     Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my pardon, this I see,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   For my cleansing this my plea,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
3. Nothing can for sin atone,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Naught of good that I have done,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
4. This is all my hope and peace,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   This is all my righteousness,
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
5. Now by this I’ll overcome—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
   Now by this I’ll reach my home—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
6. Glory! Glory! This I sing—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
   All my praise for this I bring—
   Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
   
   
   [Robert Lowry, 1876]

Persevere! Carry on!

I started my time with Jesus this morning slightly discouraged because I realized that I was 5 days behind on my Bible reading plan... which means I have a whole lot of Exodus and Leviticus to read in order to catch up. Unfortunately, I had limited time this morning and I didn't think that speed-reading through the temple requirements and such (though important!) in Exodus would be what I need to get through the day. So I put that reading plan off to finish later today and flipped over to Hebrews 4. "Randomly."

"There, remains, then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their [see the first half of the chapter, in particular, verse 6] example of disobedience." (vs. 9-11)

These verses stood out to me for a few reasons...

1. We rest because we follow God's example.
2. "make every effort" -- strive, pursue
3. Sabbath-rest, God's rest, that rest -- a particular KIND of rest. This is different than just sleeping in to get more "rest." It is an intentional kind of rest, purposeful.

After last week's post, "Back to Bold," in which I decided on a change, one BIG thing was missing. You see, I can't just decide to be confident and bold and adventurous for Jesus all on my OWN. You know why? Because I get tired and worn out so darn easily. It's annoying.

This morning I had to be at work at 9:30 and my goal was to go to the gym AND spend time with the Lord before I went. I haven't really done that kind of morning routine since I was at Teen Mania... when all of my roommates were doing the same thing. (It's a whole lot different when you don't have a roommate to make sure you get out of bed!)

I got up a little later than planned.... but still had a great workout, then came home to a quiet house and had an incredibly refreshing quiet time. I prayed that God would multiply the few minutes I had and He did. Granted, 9:30 is two and a half hours later than I normally go to work... so tomorrow will be the real test, when my alarm goes off at 4:20! 

The small taste of resting in His peace - His shalom - this morning was worth it. Completely. I pray that it will be the last thing I think about before I go to sleep tonight and the first thing I think about in the morning, so that I don't have time to whine about getting out of my warm bed or press snooze on my alarm. 

Strive for peace. Do whatever it takes. Jesus is faithful and promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him. I am so grateful that I have a foundation of TRUTH to stand on all day long.

It's easy to make a declaration of change (i.e. - my epiphany last week), it's a whooooole different story to actually make a plan and follow through with it. It's about not giving up for anything. Plan with the end in mind and just keep moving forward! 

Back to Bold

I realized something this morning. 
As seasons come and go & phases of life naturally change there is a lot that is out of our control.
But not everything.
Yes, sometimes things change and we just have to adapt.
There are other times, though, where we need to MAKE change.

As I've been fervently trying to get settled into the new semester at school, consequently, I've gotten out of the habit of blogging. Really, writing in general. I haven't been consistent in journaling. And I clearly have not been blogging. I sure do miss it.

At the same time, I've been in this mild funk. (possibly contributing to my diminished desire to write)
I've claimed discontentment as the theme of this season and, therefore, chalk up every emotional dilemma and every weird/blah day to: "well, I'm just struggling with discontentment."
Justification, much?

-----------------

Don't claim your sin as your identity.

Don't get comfortable with struggles and let them cozy up in your heart.

---------------------------

As Paul says, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things." Philippians 4:8

This isn't to say: "Deny your sin... forget about your struggles... just ignore them all!" There definitely is reason to pay attention, be on guard. Sin is not acceptable and struggles are very real. Deeper than actions that must be changed, are the thoughts that led to the actions. It all starts with what we allow our minds to dwell on. It's a battle!

We don't always choose the battle, but we can choose how we respond to it.

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish arguments and every pretension [pretend/false thing] that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

I've decided that I'm not going to claim my struggle with sin (i.e. discontentment) as my identity. I'm going to CHOOSE to move right on out of this season. Not walk, RUN.

I'll need a little of this: truth & vulnerability.

And a little of this: coffee in cute, little mugs. Just because. Oh, and probably because in order to get some quality time with the Lord immersed in the two books pictured above, I will need to wake up earlier. So I guess it is realistic. :)

Also, I'm going to quit thinking back to six months ago and wish that I could be in that season of EXTREME contentment and lovin' life. I'm going to be grateful for where the Lord has me right now and all that He has done in my heart in that time! He uses both the good & the bad to mold, shape, and build us into instruments He can use to shine His light and bring Him glory. Why would I wish away that process of perfecting?

Refinement.
It's a new day. God is doing a NEW thing.

'I choose THIS DAY to be bold. No matter how I feel about it. 

Thankful for this simple, but profound realization... why wait?! I don't want to just wait and see when this season will happen to blow over. I see in the scriptures that I can choose what I think about and that my struggle does not form my identity. I am found in JESUS and, thankfully, my confidence comes from Him. I will move forward in freedom, knowing that I am His and He is mine. I am His beloved.

I get frustrated that the views of the world wear [to impair, deteriorate, or consume gradually by use or any continued process] on me. They probably wear on you, too. Your hope is shaky. Your joy diminishes. Your faith is fragile. All in all, you just grow a little skeptical. You start to settle for what seems safe and easy and makes sense. 

That is exactly the life that I want to stay FAR, far away from!

Lord, help us to run from what makes sense to the world and choose to take the path that few walk... to move forward in FAITH, not FEAR.