Embrace the Within no. 199

“For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation” (Romans 5:10-11 CSB).

God is good all the time. He has a plan even when I don’t. He has a path through when I am doubting. He has it all figured out while I am grasping at understanding. And when I fail to recognize just how good He is, that is when I find myself struggling. Faith is an action. Hope is my confidence. Courage is choosing to change.

Paul continues in this epistle to question how pointless it is for Christians to doubt His goodness when he asks, “What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword” (Romans 8:31-35)? Too often I get overwhelmed by a situation. And I think sometimes that God has more important things with which to concern himself. I don’t want to burden God with my feeble and insignificant problems. And then I remember that He cares enough to sacrifice Himself in order to justify and reconcile me. He made me in His image for a purpose. And He wants to spend time with me. He wants a relationship with me. The force behind everything, the reason for everything, the Word and the Truth, the person in charge just wants a relationship with me. And I don’t know about you BUT that is something I will probably never be able to comprehend.

The idea that God cares enough that when I was open rebellion against Him, He still sacrificed to save me. And He wants nothing in return except a relationship with Him. And I don’t want to bring Him my concerns because that would bother God? How simple I am at times. If I was a burden to Him, then why would He give so much and ask so little in return? I need to recognize that there is nothing that I accomplish on my own. I get to boast about what He has helped me to accomplish. He has given me the opportunity to reconcile and the opportunity to be an Ambassador of His Kingdom. And through Him, “ . . . all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 CSB).

I pray that I stop acting like I am a burden to God. I pray that I take the time to fully enjoy the opportunity to bring my concerns to Him. I pray that in sharing who I am with God in prayer and action that my relationship with Him will grow deeper and stronger. I pray that there is nothing that I find to be too insignificant to bring to Him because there is nothing I can do without Him.

Grace and Shalom to your home.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH