Denim & Diamonds

There are so many things in this life that take effort. For some it is just getting out of bed in the morning, for others it is the fact that they will never get out of bed and must depend on others to do things for them that they cannot.

For me the fact that I am an extreme introvert makes just leaving the house a huge effort. Being with more than one person at a time is highly stressful and difficult for me. It is not that I don’t like people, it’s just that my bent causes groups to be unnaturally draining for me.

Every Sunday morning I get up, get dressed and go to church. But it is always with much self talk and prayer. I hope you don’t take the above statement wrong because: I love so much of corporate worship. The prayers of the saints joined together in one heart and mind. The songs of adoration lifted up to the One and Only God who is worthy of all praise and honor and glory. The sermons that feed my soul and challenge me to move closer and closer to what God wants me to become. Being connected to His body, the church, is truly a grand blessing. Yet, it is also quite the challenge for me.

God has not allowed me to use my introversion as an excuse. I must connect with the rest of the body and there are many members.

In fact God has called me to work with women. Sometimes it is one at a time, other times it is in small groups and periodically He even asks me to speak at retreats and seminars. It seems that God does not call any of us to do what comes naturally. He wants to work in and through us in such a way that He gets the glory. So, much of the Christian life is about making efforts.

Earlier today I spoke about 2 Peter 1:3 how God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Further down in verses 5-7 he says… For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

God knows that we must make efforts every day to add to our faith the character traits he lists in verse 5-7. He also knows that an intimate growing relationship with Him takes effort on our part. But, He has provided everything we need to do so. Every time He requires anything of us He also provides what we need to meet those requirements.

What an amazing God we serve. He wants all to know Jesus as our Savior and so He draws all men to Himself. He wants us to have intimate knowledge of Him, so He writes a love letter, His Bible and paints the sky every day and declares His glory through His creation all around us. He constantly provides for everything we need.

Yes, life is difficult on the planet earth, but it’s sad to say a lot of what we deal with on a daily basis is because we put our efforts into temporal, earthly things instead of directing our every effort to the things that God asks in His word.

I have been guilty of this in my life and I know I am not alone.

I have a note posted in my home office, because I know my efforts must shift dramatically in the coming days, weeks and years. Here is what it says: DECREASE, DOWNSIZE, ELIMINATE! Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Johah 2:8

My desire is to make every effort to add to my faith the things God has called me to. That means putting aside things that have previously taken my efforts. God has been working on me in this regard for a while. I used to be a pack rat. Now I am not a pack rat, but God is asking for more. More of my heart, more of my mind, more of my time,,,All of me.

I don’t exactly know what that looks like, but I sure don’t want to forfeit the grace that could be mine.

I pray that you and I will seek God’s heart more intentionally in the coming days. I truly desire to look like my Father. How about you?