This week in our 30 days to intimacy with Jesus we continue to unpack this truth:
The power of the cross is not found in what we do, but in what has already been done for us.
The heart behind striving rather than seeking is often pure. We don’t want to disappoint God. So we look at all that we do or don’t do. We try to avoid abusing grace, such a beautiful gift.
But our faith becomes inward focused, rather than upward focused.
It becomes about our latest mistake and we miss praising Him for every step toward Him.
It becomes about our weakness and we miss moving forward in His strength.
Today, as you sit in your quiet place and journal, ask Jesus to show you where you’ve been focusing.
And respond. Not with guilt, a useless emotion. But with conviction. To see what He sees. To embrace what He desires to show you. To refocus from the inward to upward.
Read Romans 8 one more time today in your quiet time. Soak it in.
Make Jude1: 24-25 your verse today. Write it down on a piece of paper or a post it. Place it where you can soak it in throughout the day.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Suzie, you hit the nail on the head with this post. As I have thought about what you said over the past day and a half, I see so much of myself in what you describe. My motives have been pure, but none the less, it took my focus off Him and onto the ways I saw myself failing- and I did miss praising Him for the small steps I was making!! The fact is, I am not who I was before Christ and I can rejoice in this! He is shaping me and refining me and I can praise Him for that! A change of focus is needed in my life- the verses you gave us in Jude are very helpful in moving in this direction…