Laced With Grace

Romans 7:18-20

I know there is nothing good in my sinful nature. I want to do what is good, but I can’t. I don’t do the good things I want to do. I keep on doing the evil things I don’t want to do. I do what I don’t want to do.

Just like Paul, I struggle with a thorn. Now it is not a big thorn but it is a thorn, nonetheless. And by “thorn” I mean “something that I have asked forgiveness for in the past, but find myself doing again”. Some may think my thorn is silly, but still I get frustrated in having to deal with the same thing over and over. Why do we keep struggling with the same thing? You would think the first time the Lord dealt with it, it would be over and done with. Lesson learned. But no, I guess I have short term memory. Lord when will I learn? I know it is not by my strength that I am successful, but by Yours.

Oswald Chambers said, “God never gives strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the minute.” As a woman that likes things planned out, organized, and written on the calendar, this is a difficult concept. And the Lord has been doing that to me…only giving me enough “insight” for the moment. He is stretching me.

But Thou art making me, I thank Thee, sire. What Thou hast done and doest Thou knows’t well. And I will help Thee; gently in Thy fire I will lie burning; on Thy potter’s wheel I will whirl patient, though my brain should reel. Thy grace shall be enough the grief to quell, And growing strength perfect through weakness dire. –George MacDonald –Diary Of an Old Soul, October 2

Dear Father, thank you Jesus that you are big enough to forgive me over and over. I thank you that you are there moment by moment. I stand on your promise that you will be there to give me strength. I love you Jesus. Amen

This morning I stepped out of my home and headed straight for the wildlife corridor where I walk every morning with Jesus.

I turned the corner on the walkway and I was wowed! The pristine beauty of the morning sparkled at me. The light of the sun had crested the valley and the tall wild grass glistened with the dampness left from the rain of yesterday. The sapphire sky was piercing, a cloudless expanse stretching to the foothills in the distance. I was captivated.

My spirit jumped and I literally caught my breath. On impulse I began to sing. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds Thy hands have made….. My spirit felt heavy this morning, troubled over pain in lives of people I love. Yet, when I turned the corner and God himself was waiting there with a luminous greeting of love. I could only burst into a song of worship.

I hope something like this has happened to you. We are created to worship! This morning He desired worship. HE GOT IT!

I returned home and He drew me to the Psalms and King David. Listen to this old familiar psalm (song), a fresh. Let this be our prayer of worship today.

Read this praise out loud and watch God respond!

Psalm 145 (The Message)

David’s Praise ( Lynn’s Praise ) ( Your Praise )

1 I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King! And
I’ll bless your name into eternity.

2 I’ll bless you every day,
and keep it up from now to eternity.

3 God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.
There are no boundaries to his greatness.

4 Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;
each one tells stories of your mighty acts.

5 Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;
I compose songs on your wonders.

6 Your marvelous doings are headline news;
I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.

7 The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;
your righteousness is on everyone’s lips.

8 God is all mercy and grace—
not quick to anger, is rich in love.

9 God is good to one and all;
everything he does is suffused with grace.

10-11 Creation and creatures applaud you, God;
your holy people bless you.
They talk about the glories of your rule,
they exclaim over your splendor,

12 Letting the world know of your power for good,
the lavish splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;
you never get voted out of office.
God always does what he says,
and is gracious in everything he does.

14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck,
gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

15 All eyes are on you, expectant;
you give them their meals on time.

16 Generous to a fault,
you lavish your favor on all creatures.

17 Everything God does is right—
the trademark on all his works is love.

18 God’s there, listening for all who pray,
for all who pray and mean it.

19 He does what’s best for those who fear him—
hears them call out, and saves them.

20 God sticks by all who love him,
but it’s all over for those who don’t.

21 My mouth is filled with God’s praise.
Let everything living bless him,
bless his holy name from now to eternity!

Frustration. Irritation. Inability. Negativity. Impossibility.

Satan attacks again.

God has given me something big to do and I can’t imagine how I could do it.

Satan attacks, telling me all the reasons that I can’t do it.

Amidst the battle I remember the Truth: My God is bigger than he that is in the world.

I can’t do it alone, but if God has called me then He will help me and if He will help me then it is not only possible but it will be done and be bigger and better than anything I could have imagined on my own.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Lord, You are bigger than anything hat Satan can throw at me, You are able to do all that You have said You would do. Lord, help me trust You and stand in this battle, knowing that You speak the truth.  Lord, help me to see what You are doing, to forget my own limitations, and to trust in You.  Lord, I know that Your plans are bigger than anything my puny imagination can dream up.  Help me to keep my eyes on You and do the next thing.

How big is your God?