There are many things that we make our relationship with God out to be; but do we ever think about "What it Isn't"? Oh, mercy, how we try to complicate our relationship with God! How we set up all these unattainable expectations of what should and shouldn’t be and crumble when we can’t meet them! Then, on the other end of the spectrum, how we start looking at others in comparison and pridefully say at least we’re not . . .
Farm life with 7 kiddos plus bonus kiddos, 9 grandbabies, 1 great-granddaughter, and another grandbaby on the way is a bit to handle. Some days if I wake up and have all my clothes on (not even discussing hair, teeth, and bathing), it’s a success! Do I think that God doesn’t see (or maybe He forgot) all the blessings (which He gave) in my life that can put some time constraints on my day? Maybe, just maybe, God doesn’t realize that I’m a human equipped with many frailties! Oh, but He does. He know everything about me and loves me right where I am!
In Matthew 22, we find the hypocritical teachers of the law questioning Jesus. They were basically wanting Him to give them an “Atta Boy” for all their religious routines. However, Jesus silenced their prideful hearts with these words from verses 37 – 40:
Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus was telling them some time ago as He is telling us today, that He wants our heart – our whole heart! This does not give us an excuse to not spend time with our Father daily, only that our time with Him would be genuine, earnestly seeking and longing for His presence in our lives. Psalm 105:4
What it is: the sincerity of our hearts
What it isn't: the span of time nor the standards set by our own pride.
My friends, we complicate our relationship with God. We create lists of "thou shalls" and "thou shall nots" that our Holy God never intended. We have made our time with God scheduled and routined and are not allowing Him to lead by grace.
In 2024, God gave me the word "simple" to meditate on throughout the year. Then around October/November, He led me to this song - By Your Grace For Your Glory.
Grace has been the driving force in this journey I've been on for several years https://gracefilledjourney.com/grace-filled-journey/ . I just hadn't realized how I made it into something God had never intended - how I was needlessly toiling and quite frankly wearing myself out. God does want me to seek and deeply long for His face - only He wants it His way and not mine.
Read these words:
By Your grace and for Your glory,
I am here to tell the story,
Of all the doors You've opened for me,
That I might give, I might love,
I might live, by Your grace and for Your glory
Weary Soul, don't make your walk with God what it isn't. Live out these simple words and allow Him to lead by grace for His glory ~
I appreciate your transparency. You help us grow with and strive for honesty.
I so appreciate your prayers!!
I love the picture of the farm!! Such good words and beautiful song. Thank you!!
Thank you for your prayers and good words you speak to me!