Moving forward

In conjunction with my previous post, I've decided that if I want to see certain areas in my life change, I need to make some commitments to the Lord. For me, simply deciding in my mind that I'm going to do something isn't enough; I'll never follow through. So, with that, I want to share those commitments, along with some of God's promises, with you. It's my hope that by making these commitments more public I will be held more accountable to them.

1. I will give God the time he deserves by reading the Word without rushing through it
Blessed is the man that walks not in the way of the ungodly……But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law does he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3

2. I will seek God in prayer more
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

3. I will do my best to share Christ in big and small ways with those around me who don't know him yet
I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, that I
may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, “You are My
people.” Isaiah 51:16

4. I will try to praise God more through my circumstances and complain less
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

5. I will not fill my heart with the garbage of the media and make wise decisions about what I watch or listen to
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

6. I will not be ashamed of my weaknesses
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

7. I will not feel guilty when I stumble in any of these areas. I will live in the grace of God who has given me freedom in Christ.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:5-6

There's no "do-overs" in Christianity

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

There are days I find such comfort in that verse. When I feel like I just can't seem to move forward in my walk with the Lord. When I look back at the past several years and wonder "how am I different now than I was then? How have I grown in my faith?" When I just want to hit the "stop" button and press "rewind" so I can have a do-over.

"He who began a good work in [me]". God has begun a good work in me. He isn't finished with me yet. He's still making me into the person he wants me to be. And the only one who is holding me back from becoming that person is me. Nobody else is responsible for the decisions I make. Why do I feel like I haven't really grown? Because I haven't allowed God to make the changes that need to be made. I've been too scared of getting hurt, of going through things I don't think I can handle, forgetting that with God all things are possible and I don't have to handle anything on my own. And to even think about trying is to make God smaller than he really is.

See, I know what I need to do in a lot of areas, and all it takes is that first step, but when it comes to stepping out I continually fall short. I just can't seem to do whatever it is that I need to do. Whether it's pray more, share the gospel more, stand more firm in my convictions; whenever I'm presented with opportunities to do those things (especially the last two), I continually back down. Not only do I make God smaller than he is, I don't allow him to work through my weaknesses so that I can glorify him. I hold him at an arm's length and just like many of my earthly relationships, I don't want to him to see the real me.

But Jeremiah 23:23 says, "Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? Declares the Lord."

Hmmm. Can't run from God. Can't hide from him. And why should I want to? Because there are days I feel like I've screwed up so badly that all I want is an opportunity to do it over? I can't change the past. What's done is done. But I can look to God, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, to help me through the here and now so that I can really live each day for him. If I believe that God is really real in my life, I need to live in such a way that reflects that reality; facing my problems and obstacles head on, with God at the lead, allowing him total control of the situation.

I praise God that I don't have to get it right all the time! He does not ask me to be perfect, but simply wants heart and my willingness to be used by him!