It was the first week of January and I was at the gym crushin’ the Christian life. I mean, I was totally rocking this new year.
I had hit my FitBit goal every single day so far. Got my Bible reading in. And I was making amazing progress on my to do list.
You could say I was feeling pretty great about myself.
As awesome as she felt, she knew something was missing… #CandidlyChristian Click To TweetSomething Was Missing…
But as awesome as I felt, I knew something was missing. That something just wasn’t right…
As I picked up speed on the treadmill, I felt a nagging at my soul.
Everything I was feeling great about, was based on my own accomplishments. I wasn’t leaning into Jesus, I was patting myself on the back.
And all of a sudden, it no longer felt so great.
Grace vs Works
Ephesians 2:8-10 came to mind, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
I had been relying on my own strength instead of looking to Jesus; boasting in my works instead of resting in God’s grace.
I knew it was true because as much as I was “crushin’ the Christian life” I had been neglecting to pray. It had all been about me and my accomplishments, instead of about God and His glory. Instead of about my relationship with Jesus.
I wasn’t crushin’ the Christian life, I was becoming a whitewashed tomb.
So I did what any Christian woman would do when they came to that realization. I started to pray. And when I got home, I stopped trying to be awesome, and surrendered to Jesus. Accepting that I’m not always get it all done, and that’s okay.
How Are You Doing This New Year?
Are you pressuring yourself to work harder, be better, and do more this new year, or are you resting in God’s grace and living out your relationship with Him?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Weigh in and tell us how your resolutions, words, or goals are coming along.
Are you pressuring yourself to work harder, be better, and do more this new year, or are you resting in God's grace and living out your relationship with Him? Click To TweetBooks for Related Reading
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“It had all been about me and my accomplishments, instead of about God and His glory.” I think all of us do this, getting distracted by the doing rather than in abiding. But it sounds like you had a really productive beginning to your year!
I definitly did. Sadly, once I realized what I was doing, the pendulum swung the other way. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a nice middle ground?
I seriously believe that God will not allow my blog to become popular, because I wouldn’t be able to handle it. That sounds weird, but I do believe that. I would get a “big head” and start thinking more of myself than I should. But I do want my blog to be read by as many Christians as possible, so perhaps He has to teach me more humility, first. God bless you!
Sometimes God just has us wait for the right timing because He’s not done teaching us what we need to know. And sometimes we need to learn the same lesson over and over again (and yes, I’m talking to myself).
Ahh, yes… checking off that to-do list instead of relying on grace. I totally get it and I am glad to see I am not alone in this. Thank you for this reminder on who we should lean on.
Thanks for stopping in, Maryann (and for reminding me I’m not alone!).
It’s tough to be Mary in a Martha world, but we have to resist the urge and sit at our Master’s feet. While plans can help us stay focused, we need to make sure we are not turning into hearers but doers of His word. Great reminder!
Ironically, I’m totally a Mary. It’s my default setting. But I’m not immune to checking things off a checklist to feel good about myself.
I get you, girlfriend. I get you. This walk with Jesus really is simple, yet we manage to make it something quite hard and self-fulfilling. Hand raising here! Lord, forgive us. Have Your way and gather every ounce of the glory.
Yes and amen! We try so hard to do it on our own, yet all we really need to do is admit that we can’t and surrender to God’s grace.
I am an achiever and it’s hard for me to receive God’s grace. When I do, it’s overwhelming. Thank you for the reminder of how important it is to live out of that love.
You are so welcome! Thanks for stopping in, Jodie.
Those times can come in so subtlety. It’s easy to start focusing on accomplishing tasks and it feels good to do that!! God is so very good to gently remind us when our focus needs adjusting. Isn’t it wonderful that we get those new mercies every morning!!! This blessed my heart to read. #saltnlightlinkup
Yes! So thankful for God’s goodness and mercy.
I love the points you made here. It’s so easy to look at ourselves and our accomplishments instead of relying on Jesus. Thank you for this reminder as those of us with resolutions this year work on them. Great post, Heather.
Thanks, Ashley. Praying you have a great, grace-filled, God-focused year.
Thank you for this post! It’s easy to fall into that trap of self reliance and then be crushed when we inevitably fail. Prayer is definitely key to relying on God and his grace to sustain us and enable us to take care of our temples!
So true, Annie. So true.
Oh my goodness what a post to read today. I have been doing super good at scaling back and putting God first this year. It is my goal to “let go and take hold of God.” However, as I am reading your post this morning I am realizing I have back slipped the last few days(3 to be exact) and I already feel it. Thank you for setting me straight heading to God now.
So glad you found this at just the right time! I’m coming back to it today after failing to get my checklist done. It’s a great reminder that it’s not about our to do list, it’s about Jesus. A reminder I need whether I’m crushing it or not.