March #jammed: Grace Revealed.

Day 84: Afraid to use it.

“Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.” 1 Timothy 4:7

“I think I’m ready for a nice bag,” I told my husband when he asked for Christmas ideas. This thrift store gal feels like paying half price is splurging, and sure enough, when I opened that big designer box for Christmas …I could finally say I owned something really valuable.

Listen. I’ve used that bag a handful of times. The rest of the time it sits in my closet and looks really pretty. I like to look at it, but I’m nervous using it. I don’t want to be the one to break it in. Second hand purchases are way less stressful.

“To meditate on the Scriptures is to think about them, turning them over in our minds, and applying them to our life’s situations.” Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness

The other issue lodged in my heart was guilt. There are hungry people, and I’m carrying this bag. Bleh. Just makes me feel all sorts of ugly.

Then, there’s worrying about what people will think. “Oh, she has that bag …hmmmm.. must be nice.”

“Train yourself to be godly…” todays’ verse says. What does that mean?

“godliness-Reverence for or devotion to God, producing a practical awareness of God in every aspect of life….in this verse’s context …godly living demands self-discipline.” Dictionary of Bible Themes.

Grace is not afraid of our worthiness. When we accept more than we deserve with a thankful heart, it displays gratitude …which is a discipline of the heart. To be thankful. I’m not sure how much I’ll use that bag, but I do know myself. I requested a neutral, timeless color that wouldn’t drift out of season or style. I may grow into it.

Grace, on the other hand, is one size fits all and for all seasons and walks of life.

Father, Praise You for grace. Thank You for blessing us with nice things on this earth, even though they will fade away along with the life we live here. Forgive us for valuing any ‘thing’ beyond Your grace. Bless us with grateful, disciplined, hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What is your favorite thing to look at “up close?”  Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Bag Hunting,

Megs

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March #jammed: Grace Revealed.

Day 68: Fear is real.

“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep mysteries of God.  Who can see into a man’s heart and know his thoughts? Only the spirit that dwells within the man. In the same way, the thoughts of God are known only by His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-11

Wetness went dropped onto my left arm, and my right rib was cradling a pokey little elbow. My feet were blocked in by our warm puppy, and I was sweating with no way to get out of the covers. Normally, I have no problem drifting off to sleep in that heavenly little scene, but this night was different. This evening, fear wafted in the crack of the window and threatened to steal more peace than the claustrophobia that leaves it open in of January.

“Can you come home?” I texted my husband, out watching football with friends while I snuggled my daughters to sleep. “I have one of those weird feelings…”

Every once in a while I nudge my husband awake because I’ve been nudged awake. Not knowing why, I listen for any sound that could be deemed the suspicious source of the fear, and then beg my husband to go downstairs and check everything for “suspiciousness.” He hates it. It really aggravates him. He feels no sense of bravado at all for protecting me and really loathes me yanking him out of a deep sleep.

There is an inference of wisdom in today’s verse that soothes my out of control soul’s grasp for it in the middle of the night. This particular wisdom has a name …sophia.

sophia is a word meaning “wisdom.” It denotes the capacity to not only understand something (Acts 7:22) but also to act accordingly (Col 1:9; 4:5). It is the latter that separates wisdom from knowledge.

‘Sophia’ should quiet the false alarm that intrusion is inevitable. So, why do I still stir?

…There is a natural wisdom; Moses was instructed in “the wisdom of Egypt” (Acts 7:22). But there is also a special wisdom that can come only from God, especially through the Holy Spirit. -Mouce’s Complete Expository Dictionary

That’s it right there. That’s why the only way I can fall back asleep is through prayer. When we activate the Holy Spirit of God living within us as a product of Jesus’ gift of grace on the cross, we have the ability to remain calm …even in the face of real fear …but especially through the overreactive middle-of-the-night-creepy-sound fear.

“Who would have dreamed? God lit up the earth with the brilliant display of Holy Spirit! And in an instant, God is now within us. We walk with every might and magnificence of God in our core. We are filled with his instruction. The Word of God brings power in our heart. We can worship in Spirit. Oh yes, Jesus knew He was leaving us His very best. No wonder He spoke so confidently.” Kelly Balarie, Fear Fighting

I hope my fear never comes to fruition, and please don’t disregard creepy sounds on my account. Wake them up and make them check! But wisdom is knowing that the feeling of fear is only frightened away by the Power that lies within.

Father, Praise You for equipping us to fight our fears. Some are very real, and others just a possibility that scares us. Thank you for sending Your Spirit to help us know the difference. And forgive us when we allow fear to carry us out of control. Bless us to seek You first when we are scared. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What scares you awake? Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Fear Fighting,

Megs

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