Monday, October 10, 2011

Going Solo


Galatians 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

I hang my head in shame as I admit this, maybe it will free you up to admit it too, but
I identify with Peter.
Yeah, Peter. No, not the post resurrection Peter.


I'm talking about the Peter who walked along with Christ and spoke twice as much as he thought. My husband calls him the disciple with a foot shaped mouth.
Oh, boy do I identify! 

Sad to say, I think Peter was actually much wiser than me.
You know the story about Peter walking on water?
Well here's my interpretation of how pathetic it would have been if I were in Peter's shoes.
Oh yeah, I would be the one that said,
"Hey that looks fun let me try."
I'd try, I'd get scared, but then I'd get my balance and a little bit of confidence and then I'd say,
"Hey guys, look what I can do!"
Then I'd fall on my face. - Splat!

I long to know God. I desire more than anything to have a major impact for His Kingdom. I want my life to be used 100% for His glory alone. The problem is I am sometimes more like an over zealous child.

I have a 4 year old son. He loves his mommy. He really wants to please me in the things that he does.


For instance: He knew that Paitlyn (his 2yr old sister) needed a haircut, and to save me the time and energy,  he decides he should cut it himself.  

This past week He knew his sister was thirsty so he filled her cup up with water - from the potty. (she has been sick all weekend). 

Or he knows how much I love his art so he thinks of a great plan, a way for mommy to treasure it forever, so he got out a sharpie to color on mommy's brand new dining room table. 
Yes, just like Jesus, I love my son with an everlasting love, otherwise by now I would have taken him back to where I got him.

Isn't this exactly how we treat God sometimes. We want to make Him happy so we come up with an amazing scheme for evangelism or a fantastic new program for church, and think Lord look at me and all I am doing for you, aren't You proud?  Often we pray about what we're wanting to do for God and we ask Him to bless it.
Instead we should fall on our faces with no preconcieved notion of "what might make God happy" and have our hearts and minds humbled to accept HIS wisdom.


The bible clearly says over and over that GOD is the author of wisdom. He does not need us to show HIM how cool we are or how devoted we are.


I can't imitate a program or an act of evangelism the Lord has laid on someone else's heart.  He has gifted me with HIS gifts that He wants to activate and use within me. HE has equipped each of us in a specific way to bring HIM the glory HE deserves. How funny is the idea of the creation trying to show off to the CREATOR.
"Look what I can do!" It's ignorant. 

God knows exactly what I'm capable of.  What He's interested in, is showing us exactly what HE's capable of. That can only come from a humble, surrendered life; that is looking for the Father to lead and not trying to lead the FATHER!


You see the thing is: the stone David threw at Goliath, without the Power of God directing that stone, it was just a rock in a kids hand.

You see the disciples that were up fishing all night trying their best to make a living and caught NOTHING all night long- it made No sense for them to throw the nets on the other side of the boat, other than that's what Christ commanded them to do and try once more. It seemed senseless.

However, with the power of GOD behind it, the amount of fish caught almost toppled the boat!  We need to quit trying to make sense with our lives and say "Here I am Lord, YOU use me."
Make my mind a sponge Lord! When YOU speak may I have the humility to Hear it, Accept it and APPLY it! May I never be too busy filling out my own agenda and overlooking YOUR direction!
May we learn to walk by the SPIRIT alone and not from our own initiatives!
HIS Clay~

  






Growing Home

14 comments:

  1. Oh goodness. Your son made me smile. :) Great encouragement Melissa!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Melissa - I love that last sentence - with the power of God behind it - that's what its all about at the end of the day. Great post, and it seems your son keeps you on your toes :)
    God bless
    Tracy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Melissa, your son made me laugh/cringe. But what a great illustration of how we often try to "help" God. I can really relate to Peter too, though I am learning that I can't do everything, and I can't do anything on my own. Many blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh...so many take aways from this:

    "Often we pray about what we're wanting to do for God and we ask Him to bless it.
    Instead we should fall on our faces with no preconcieved notion of "what might make God happy" and have our hearts and minds humbled to accept HIS wisdom."

    and the real stinger....

    "God knows exactly what I'm capable of. What He's interested in, is showing us exactly what HE's capable of."

    So insightful on so many different levels. This will leave me thinking, pondering, praying and confessing for quite awhile.

    Thank you-
    ~Stacy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Count me in as another Peter-disciple, thinking up my own ways to do things without asking for blessing or direction. Forging ahead head-long & usually making a BIG MESS (or someone sick!LOL!!!). Thanks for the WONDERFUL reminder that we need to SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness ... the rest will be added.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have walked the life where I have tried to do things on my own and my efforts were much an ordinary stone WITHOUT the power of God behind them to make lasting change in the world. I'm grateful that I have seen the difference that the power of God makes!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love this post Melissa, the idea of the creation showing off to the creator, you're right it's absurd! I hope your daughter is feeling better, oh my! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your post made me smile.....it brought me back to the day my oldest daughter decided to trim her sisters hair......and basically she left her with no bangs and lopsided hair......it was crazy!!!

    Thank you for the smiles!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ah humility. How much it is needed and how few of us have it. I try my best but am sometimes still not the greatest. ...Good luck with the four year old. Mine rebeled this morning (at the park of course) when I started trying to implement the timer for time outs. He's taking a much needed nap now so everything is much better... Glad to come and get to know you after you stopped by my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Stopping by from the Don't Waste Your Homemaking link up! What a great post! This is such a great reminder that we need to stop assuming we know what we're doing, and really let God guide us. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I rally need to find your blog today thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh my gosh, your son's "help" made me laugh (sorry!). What a good heart he has!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow....what a blessing this was!! Without the hand of God guiding, we're ALL a bunch of "fall flat on our facers..."
    Humility...it's on my mind today too :)

    Great word...thanks for joining us!
    lori

    ReplyDelete
  14. Shalom Melissa,

    A good article with an important theme and good points to ponder, prayer over, and practice. Thanks for sharing.

    Shalom In Yahshua(Jesus) Messiah.

    ReplyDelete