Are you ever confused?
I am.
We expect so much to be predictable. People, the weather, the plans for the day. Things don’t always turn out as we wanted. There always seems to be something or someone that disrupts our “normal” flow.
I was thinking of the “never quit” post and praying through some things. Sometimes we do need to quit before we can move forward on the road He has called us to travel.
The verses lately say, “study how He did it” and “learn to think like Him.” That is the renewing of our minds, isn’t it?
Instead of OUR expectations – HIS expectations.
To Him – 2 fish and a loaf might be enough instead of us trying to take over the whole event. If we’re doing all the planning – where is HE?
Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. Gal 3:2-3
Thank You Lord that You give such grace. Help us to give ourselves grace too.
It's not really about me... 
You know, Judi, I have been a teacher of the Christian faith for about as long as I’ve been a student. I have, (maybe had), a new “convert” from the Catholic faith with whom I was studying.
She constantly poured over the scriptures to try and find if she was “guilty” of sin because she was having a hard time incorporating her new faith into her old life.
I told her being a Christian wasn’t about that; she became a new child in Christ when she believed and was baptized. God expects people to “fall back” at times, not only while growing in the faith, but all during their lives. That’s why we have His promise of ongoing grace for the sins we commit.
Nevertheless, this poor gal is struggling mightily with herself and her unsupportive family. Currently, she has dropped our study sessions.
Becoming a student of the bible for a child of God shouldn’t be confusing, it should be liberating! We have the promise of grace through our faith for sins during our entire lifetime, as long as, we try to keep a short leash on sins.
Learning to think and act as Jesus does is a step-by-step process, just like any self-improvement plan. We move forward a bit each day, and we may fall back at times. The crucial thing is to keep your heart centered on a desire to improve and do not “quit” on that idea.
I apologize for such a lengthy comment, but I felt it needed to be said here.
Keep up your good work…
Clayton 🙂
No apologies needed Clayton. I could have lengthy posts but try to do short ones and they don’t tell a full story but random thoughts of a point of study or pondering.
I’m thankful for teachers that have said to look for His grace, His promises and His love as I study His Word. Sin as a focal point is not Christ’s freedom. Seeking first the Kingdom was very helpful for me. I pray your student finds God’s love in abundance and longs for even more of it. When He said, “It is finished.” He signed and sealed it. How great the Fathers love for us – that we should be called His children. Forever learning from Him. Thank you Father for Clayton, his service, his compassion. Let this daughter of Yours Lord feel the hope and acceptance You long to give.
An absolutely beautiful prayer, Judi. Obviously you have the traits of the Father’s love within you. Humility before Him, and compassion for others readily show in the words of this “talk” with God.
Thank you for including me as well; I need Him evermore in my life as we all do!
Please feel free to send me a message just to share thoughts about anything if you feel the need or desire… You can even use my email address at:
“clayton.paul@aol.com”
Enjoy your day and take good care of yourself.
Clayton 🙂
AMEN! And help us to allow your grace to be the moving force in our lives (not our own plans, agendas and provision). We want you!!!
Grace has such a different flow! Yes Lord – let Your grace be our guide.
I loved both posts Judi. I find that most of the promises of Scripture are truths held in tension. We are called to never quit pursuing Christ and pressing on towards the goal relentlessly even as life itself rises up to stop us from getting to Jesus. Then again that pursuit is going to cause us to “quit” a lot of things along the way. Things that we once thought important are going to have to be left behind if we are going to reach the heights to which our God has called us!
Those truth tensions are where we need His discernment even more Joe. I don’t want to settle for comfort. Bless you as you press on!.
Amen! While I would dearly love all of life to be comfortable I realize it can never be so if I am to grow.
Needed.