So, as I enter the blogging world, I feel like I have some confessions I need to make to anyone who might stumble upon this site. First and foremost, I am not a blogger! I don't read blogs religiously and I really don't even like the word "blog" -- I just might come up with my own word for this whole thing by the time I'm done! When the thought first crossed my mind about creating one, I quickly told God that the last thing the world needed was another blog! Surely there were enough people out there pontificating on everything from diapers to dandruff.
Many years ago as a teenager in the youth group at church, we often did team building exercises like the trust fall. One person would stand on a chair and willingly fall backwards into the arms of the youth standing around them, hoping and praying they would actually catch them. Well, I am sitting here behind this computer screen today because this is obviously another exercise of trust that God has for me in this journey called life. Thankfully, He's always there to catch me and I can trust in Him with my life.
Want to know what scares me the most about this phase of the journey that I'm on?
Being real.
I could easily sit here and wax poetically about God's love, seeking righteousness, loving the lost, and all of the church jargon that we hear on a repetitive basis. But I want you to see ME, shortcomings and all. I want you to hear about my triumphs, and my epic failures and the wonderful grace that covers them all. I want you to walk through the dark valleys with me, as well as scale the mountain peaks of God's wonderful blessings. I am hoping that by me being vulnerable with you, that it will cause you to look deep inside of yourself and get real about who you really are before God.
Let's think about David for a moment. Now here's a man who had to get real before God! Following his affair with Bathsheba, we truly get to see his heart and his lament over his transgression as he pens Psalm 51. We all have read or heard the verse about David asking God to create in him a clean heart and to renew his spirit, but have you ever read verse 6? Here's what it says:
"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom." Psalm 51:6
David knew he couldn't hide anything from God, or from his fellow man either (see 2 Sam. 12). We try to hide stuff deep into the recesses of our soul so that people at church (or home, work, etc.) don't know what we're struggling with. Why do we do that? Do we think they'll question the strength of our Christianity? Do we think it makes us look closer to God by never revealing what brings us down or trips us up? Or, do you have your shortcomings buried so deep that you yourself even deny that they're really there?
Well, my friend, they're there whether you want to admit to them or not! Why not open up about them and let others learn from our shortcomings? I think when David wrote the part about "truth in the inward parts," he's acknowledging that he is no different than any of us and had buried the reality of his sin so deep in his soul that he thought that they were invisible. Want to know something? No one benefits from our buried struggles, especially you.
So, let's quit pretending that we've got it all together so that you can learn from me, and I can learn from you. We're in this thing together! Let's quit trying to look perfect and ask God to reveal to us what we have buried deep inside and look for the wisdom that will be gained from our honesty.
Take some time to read Psalm 51 today and pray that God will expose to you anything that you've not gotten real about. I promise to be real. Will you?
Many years ago as a teenager in the youth group at church, we often did team building exercises like the trust fall. One person would stand on a chair and willingly fall backwards into the arms of the youth standing around them, hoping and praying they would actually catch them. Well, I am sitting here behind this computer screen today because this is obviously another exercise of trust that God has for me in this journey called life. Thankfully, He's always there to catch me and I can trust in Him with my life.
Want to know what scares me the most about this phase of the journey that I'm on?
Being real.
I could easily sit here and wax poetically about God's love, seeking righteousness, loving the lost, and all of the church jargon that we hear on a repetitive basis. But I want you to see ME, shortcomings and all. I want you to hear about my triumphs, and my epic failures and the wonderful grace that covers them all. I want you to walk through the dark valleys with me, as well as scale the mountain peaks of God's wonderful blessings. I am hoping that by me being vulnerable with you, that it will cause you to look deep inside of yourself and get real about who you really are before God.
Let's think about David for a moment. Now here's a man who had to get real before God! Following his affair with Bathsheba, we truly get to see his heart and his lament over his transgression as he pens Psalm 51. We all have read or heard the verse about David asking God to create in him a clean heart and to renew his spirit, but have you ever read verse 6? Here's what it says:
"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom." Psalm 51:6
David knew he couldn't hide anything from God, or from his fellow man either (see 2 Sam. 12). We try to hide stuff deep into the recesses of our soul so that people at church (or home, work, etc.) don't know what we're struggling with. Why do we do that? Do we think they'll question the strength of our Christianity? Do we think it makes us look closer to God by never revealing what brings us down or trips us up? Or, do you have your shortcomings buried so deep that you yourself even deny that they're really there?
Well, my friend, they're there whether you want to admit to them or not! Why not open up about them and let others learn from our shortcomings? I think when David wrote the part about "truth in the inward parts," he's acknowledging that he is no different than any of us and had buried the reality of his sin so deep in his soul that he thought that they were invisible. Want to know something? No one benefits from our buried struggles, especially you.
So, let's quit pretending that we've got it all together so that you can learn from me, and I can learn from you. We're in this thing together! Let's quit trying to look perfect and ask God to reveal to us what we have buried deep inside and look for the wisdom that will be gained from our honesty.
Take some time to read Psalm 51 today and pray that God will expose to you anything that you've not gotten real about. I promise to be real. Will you?
Great Job! God continues to bless you with much insight and knowledge! All of who read your blogs will be blessed. I know I have been.
ReplyDeleteNorma Bain said....Lord I admit I do not have it all together and thank you for your Word and the examples of my Christian friends that help me put the pieces into place. Lord formost you and then articles like this that make me acknowledge that I am a work in progress. I do not want to have a divided heart!
ReplyDeleteThank you both. This isn't something I ever saw in the plan, but evidently it was a part of the plan all along. Love you both :)
ReplyDeleteFinally... someone else who is tired of "pretending" to have it all together, all of the time. If only more people in the church realm would admit that we do fall very short which is why we're in desperate need of God's grace!
ReplyDelete"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Pretty amazing how that works.
Love it Melissa! Thanks for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteLord.. I am not worthy.... only You....in You can I be.......I love You.
ReplyDelete