For me, this has been a rough 40 days of prayer; my church joined together to seek the Lord, and our 40th day was yesterday. I look back and feel like maybe I fell down more than I stood up. I had more than a few moments I tossed it all up to the wind and was ready to just quit trying since I’d failed repeatedly. But….then the Holy Spirit gently picked me up, stood me up on my feet, and started dusting me off…all over again. Reminding me that I came in this condition, and I’m a bit better than I once was – but….I still need help. And still need cleaning off.
Being God’s ambassadors here on earth can be hard, too – being salt and light are a high bar in a world so broken. Speaking for myself, I can be a pretty poor example of His love sometimes! He calls me to show the rest of the world what He’s like, and when I’m grumpy, or impatient, or judgmental – even if I tell myself I’m “not as bad as everyone else” – the world sees. And they think God might be that way, too.
But being failed humans, imperfect Christians, we don’t have the right to give up. To shrug it off and assume people already hate God, that we can’t make it any worse. That we failed 5 times at a spiritual discipline, so why try a 6th. That our prodigal has rebuffed our gentle nudges so many times we might as well quit making an effort.
Our obligation is to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off – and start all over again. To pick up where we dropped God’s calling on our life, and re-commit to the next step. To apologize when we wrong someone….or when someone sees us wrong someone else. To let them know that’s our flesh that did that….and that God calls us to do better. To call that person who needs to hear that someone loves them. Today.
I may be speaking to an audience of one – me – but even if only I hear me, that’ll be worth the writing of this post.
I also did the 40 days of Prayer and can totally relate to what you are saying as I feel I fail more than I allow God to succeed in my life. I asked God in my prayers just last night to please help me persevere and never give up. I can only tell you for me that you have been a true inspiration and encouragement and have been a disciple that we can relate too and be inspired by sharing your faith, your struggles and your talent. Thank you . More than you know..
Beautifully said Sandy! God bless you .
No Sandy. You’re speaking to a bigger audience. I didn’t do the 40 days of prayer, but there have been many times where God has called me and I have failed. As you said, it’s so easy during these times, to just give up, but those are the times that we continue in God’s strength rather than our own. If things that the Lord calls us to are too easy, we won’t need Him because we think we can do it ourselves. The Word says that we are more than conquerors. I take comfort in this verse because we wouldn’t need to be conquerors if there was nothing to conquer or overcome. And, again we are MORE than conquerors. So we do what you did. Pick ourselves up and commit ourselves and our service to Him. Though we don’t always get it right, the Lord sees our heart, and continues to grow us. Thank you for sharing Sandy, for being so open. You truly are an inspiration, in many ways, but especially in the way you live your Christian life, seeking God’s will in all you do. Sending you a big hug! Can you feel it?