I’m Not Graceful, But I Can Have a Grace-FULLY Abundant Life
I have a confession to make: I’m not a very graceful person. Lately, I’ve been falling flat on my face more than I care to think about.
In an attempt to create some order to the chaos I call daily living, I’ve been bent on organizing, planning, and scheming. And my plan works really well–for a day. That is, until I fall flat again.
The next day I pray a little harder, tweak a few steps, and attempt to organize my life again. This time I move one step forward before falling back two.
It is becoming frustratingly evident, I cannot do this “getting my life together” thing on my own strength.
Can you relate? Are you also missing something in the makeup of your life?
I know what I have to do. God has whispered the next step in many ways and at many different times. But it requires me to let go—to let go of “me,” and I’m not good at that.
However, in my repeated failings, I’m beginning to loosen my hold. I’m beginning to weaken my resolve to do things my way. And that’s a good thing.
The Abundant Life
Because I’m beginning to see that in my attempts to succeed, I’m tripping over myself. I simply need to get out of the way and let Jesus Christ take over … take over everything.
By making everything about Jesus, by making Jesus my everything, order will come from chaos. A graceful existence will come from a grace-less one.
By making everything about Jesus, by making Jesus my everything, order will come from chaos. Click To Tweet
By making Jesus my everything, a graceful existence will come from a grace-less one. Click To Tweet
There is a rich, full, and simple life awaiting me (and you). But it won’t come through my efforts, no matter how much I plan or how diligent I am.
The richness, beauty, and order I desire is only found when Jesus Christ is IT. When He becomes fully I AM in my life.
I’m not graceful. I fall flat on my face under my own power (although sometimes I don’t realize it until later).
But through Christ alone a grace-FULLY abundant life is mine to take hold of.
Now to further let go of “me “…
“I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10)
Reflections: Are you living for Christ alone? What is stopping you from putting Him in the driver’s seat for everything in your life?
Writing this made me think of the song “In Christ Alone.” Enjoy this moving video.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8welVgKX8Qo]
Writing on the prompt “Graceful” and linking with
and Simply Me.
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By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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I heard about you through your mother Ruth Sunne. I am a very good friend of her and I joined the church she belongs to.
Welcome, Jan! My mother-in-law is a wonderful person. Her faith inspires me as I’m sure it does you. I pray my words bless you.
Oh yes! It is so hard to simply let go and let God. His grace has no end though and no matter how many times we fall flat he’s there with the spatula and jello molds to scrape us back up and mold us into his likeness…not to say God looks like jello… But you know what I mean! Thanks for sharing your graceful with us this Five Minute Friday!
It was my privilege to share. He’s scraped me up and remolded more times than I can count!
Julie – “Simplify” is my base word – and even in that I fail – thank you for being a step ahead of where I seem to have lost myself…
“By making everything about Jesus … by making Jesus my everything … order will come from chaos. A graceful existence will come from a grace-less one.”
Yes, we fail, Linda, but God doesn’t … ever! Resting in that today.
“Because I’m beginning to see that in my attempts to succeed, I’m tripping over myself. I simply need to get out of the way and let Jesus Christ take over … take over everything.” I trip over myself every day. So thankful that He gives me the strength to lay it all down and get out of the way. Visiting from the 5MF!
So nice to have you visiting, Barbie! Wow, I’d be left splattered all over the floor if it wasn’t for the Lord’s grace. Hang onto His hem.
Somehow I missed this post, but I’m glad I noticed and skipped back to it. Love the analogy of falling flat in our own power- but finding grace-filled life in Him.
Glad you noticed as well, Natasha. I have to hold onto His grace because I fall so often. All of us slip to some extent.