I thought for a change of pace today, I'd blog in the morning before I did anything else -- just to savor the quietness and my last morning with a view of something other than a parking lot for a while. The snow hasn't really melted yet, which I'm happy about because all the roads are clear, but everything is still so beautiful and white. It is somewhere around 15 degrees outside though, and that's not going to make for a very pleasant walk around campus later.
I've been thinking about everything we talked about in church last night (well, I say that, but really I've been sleeping...maybe that counts). What sticks with me the most is what my friend Mishal said while we were checking in with each other and praying afterwards. I said, I'd like prayer for wisdom and grace this semester to know what to do with myself. And she replied, without skipping a beat, Sometimes it's not about doing, it's about being. I stopped like I'd just been slapped with a fish, except with a lot more appreciation, and realized that what she said really, really makes sense in light of the gospel. The more I "do," the more I manufacture, the more I try...the more people see Grace striving and working. The more I "am," the more I let the Spirit "be" through me in every moment, the more people see God.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Because I am His workmanship, those good works flow out of my life. I can BE kindness, BE wisdom, BE generosity, BE grace, BE love, BE mercy. I can BE a sister, and BE a friend. It's who he's recreated me to be. It's not something I have to put on in order to DO something. He's already equipped me for every good work, and made me into a living, breathing conduit of his love. All I have to do is be who I am in Him.
And yet it's so challenging to stop thinking and doing and start being, living as one with the Spirit. God, help me learn.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Col 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
ReplyDeleteDeu 28:2 "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God
Just a bit of encouragement for the road ahead.
Its really difficult to separate the worlds idea of "we are what we do" with Christ's idea of "We are who we are made to be". Im doing the same thing.