Not good enough

Ever get that attack? "Your not good enough." "You can't handle this." "You failed and you will again." "Your not worthy." Fill in your own. You know the feeling. Yeah me too. I felt compelled to blog - mostly out of temporary insomnia. That voice, whatever the source, harms us more than we realize. Just realize ... that whisper, that voice we learn to listen to. It says, "I'm good enough - for anything." It's God with his longsuffering reminder we grasp briefly and then lose.

Remember headstrong Peter walking on the water towards Jesus. What faith! But when he took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink. It's easy to be distracted by the waves ... easy to doubt. Come back to the source and remember who's in control, what He's capable of, and the goodness of His heart.

Pray. Seek. Thank Him. We have little need to understand what He is doing though it's often our strongest desire. Trust and He will provide. Get back up and follow. No time for rolling in pity and shame.

We are capable of the worst kind of sin apart from Him and if I've learned anything ... I stray. Come back and be thankful. Rejoice! He opens His arms with acceptance. We CAN'T be unadopted! But without simply talking to Him daily we CAN be miserable. He's our Daddy. KNOW that He adores you. He weeps with you. He laughs with you. He smiles with great pleasure when; outside of our nature; against all odds; in the midst of strife ... we rejoice ... we love ... we sing ... we endure ... we trust ... we believe ... we witness ... we obey ... we worship. How proud He is! The creator and source of all. Can you believe we move the emotions (lack of better word) of God. He gave us freedom to choose to love Him.

No WE can't do it. God can. Take the pressure off. He bears it freely.

O God, help me to keep you first in my life.

On my desk at work I keep a small glass box of Bible Verse cards and daily inspirationals. Each day it reminds me to stop and pray before I face the day's challenges. Lately has been a little more difficult than normal. Nothing too dramatic or negative has taken place ... it's been life's simple patience-testers that seem to have taken a tole on my attitude (thanks for your blog Greg). My card today says, "O God, help me to keep you first in my life." To date, this is the shortest, seemingly most simple prayer card. However, I think this is actually one of the toughest challenges we face as believers. Circumstances, work, family, etc. often require our focus. Sometimes it's difficult to "Live for an audience of One".
Proverbs 3:6 reads "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Again, a short-but-sweet verse loaded with a command and a promise. I claim that promise today and pray that God leads me on the path he created for me. Isn't it amazing to have a God who desires to be sought with genuine interest and discovered by hopeful wisdom? More than anything he wants us to talk to him daily. He waits anxiously to bless us and draw closer to us. Sounds like a loving daddy, doesn't it?