Taking a thoughtful walk through a broad meadow, a young girl pauses to take in the world around her. As she drinks deeply of it all, a lone wildflower left over from the great burst of spring catches her eye. She wonders at its beauty, its tenacity. Approaching it, she stoops lower to marvel at the wildflower blushing purple. Its lovely face upturned toward heaven, expectant to receive the good gifts it receives every day... the dew, the sun, the breeze, the busy bees. Her thoughts turn to her own life, comparing herself to that one flower.
"God takes care of this flower, will He not much more care for me?"
"Interesting," she thinks, "how this little flower reflects faith and hope. How it has endured to the end of spring, stands alone and still has an upturned face. How beautiful it is, it seems almost grateful. Had I not taken the time to stop and look around me, I might have missed this precious gift. Funny, I had to stoop lower to really see all of this. I wonder if this is the way it works, if stooping lower is the path to gratefulness. Is stooping lower the only way to really see the good gifts? Surely there are gifts I receive everyday just like this flower. Even the gifts this flower receives are gifts that I receive I suppose."
"What is it that scripture says?" She pulls a small bible from her skirt pocket. Turning the pages to Matthew 6 she reads softly to herself, "Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!" (v. 28-30)
Humbled by the thought, she sits next to the flower to turn her own face heavenward and bows her heart in grateful praise.
Showing posts with label humble. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humble. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, March 30, 2009
Humility and Grace
I Corinthians 15:10
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
Grace is the divine influence upon our hearts and it's reflection in our life. God has bestowed His grace upon us and it is not in vain- not hidden and neglected but stirred up and worked out through spiritual disciplines. This grace, then, is not from within ourselves but from "without" - God must apply His grace to our lives. That grace is freely given as a gift in order that it would be demonstrated in our lives for His glory.
Because grace is a gift from God, it is His work in our lives as we walk in obedience to His will. This is not of ourselves - humility is necessary in order to walk in grace. Humbly acknowledging that we cannot do it without Him, we need His grace to pour into our hearts so we can then in turn pour it out on others.
Extending grace to others is a humbling experience, we must lay down our rights and our expectations. We are unworthy of His grace yet He abundantly bestows it upon us, we have no grounds to withhold grace from those around us. If we are willing to be humbled then grace will begin to flow more freely out of our lives and God will be able to use us for His glory.
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
Grace is the divine influence upon our hearts and it's reflection in our life. God has bestowed His grace upon us and it is not in vain- not hidden and neglected but stirred up and worked out through spiritual disciplines. This grace, then, is not from within ourselves but from "without" - God must apply His grace to our lives. That grace is freely given as a gift in order that it would be demonstrated in our lives for His glory.
Because grace is a gift from God, it is His work in our lives as we walk in obedience to His will. This is not of ourselves - humility is necessary in order to walk in grace. Humbly acknowledging that we cannot do it without Him, we need His grace to pour into our hearts so we can then in turn pour it out on others.
Extending grace to others is a humbling experience, we must lay down our rights and our expectations. We are unworthy of His grace yet He abundantly bestows it upon us, we have no grounds to withhold grace from those around us. If we are willing to be humbled then grace will begin to flow more freely out of our lives and God will be able to use us for His glory.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Renewing Your Strength
As the New Year begins, here is a good starting point - renewing our strength, strength only our Lord can give and sustain - and a wise path for the whole year ahead.
"Your life cannot be sustained without renewal from God. Just as it is essential to replace the body's energy by eating, the soul must be revitalized by feeding on the Book of God, by listening to the preaching of His Word, and by the soul-filling table of communion.
"How depressed we become when renewal is neglected! How poor and malnourished are the saints who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer. If our faith can live without God, that faith is not from God; it is only a dream. But if our faith is from God, we will wait for Him as flowers wait for the dew....
"In humble prayer, draw near to the footstool of divine mercy, and realize the fulfillment of the promise, 'Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength' (Isaiah 40:31)"
taken from: "Morning and Evening", Charles H. Spurgeon, January 2, Evening
"Your life cannot be sustained without renewal from God. Just as it is essential to replace the body's energy by eating, the soul must be revitalized by feeding on the Book of God, by listening to the preaching of His Word, and by the soul-filling table of communion.
"How depressed we become when renewal is neglected! How poor and malnourished are the saints who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer. If our faith can live without God, that faith is not from God; it is only a dream. But if our faith is from God, we will wait for Him as flowers wait for the dew....
"In humble prayer, draw near to the footstool of divine mercy, and realize the fulfillment of the promise, 'Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength' (Isaiah 40:31)"
taken from: "Morning and Evening", Charles H. Spurgeon, January 2, Evening
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