Sometimes it’s hard for me to walk in the good works that God has prepared beforehand for me to walk in. Not because I don’t want to do good things, but rather because I want to do too many good things... or I want to do someone else’s assigned “good works” because I honestly think I could do it better. I know how prideful that sounds, and it truly is just that! I’m not claiming that this is right thinking, but nevertheless, I’m embarrassed to say that it’s what I think sometimes.
I’m a “yes girl” (plus I’m single without a family), so I get asked to do a lot of things— things I enjoy, things I don’t want to do, things I don’t know anything about, things I could do with my eyes closed, things I invest almost my entire life into, things that only take up an evening... the list goes on. And when I’m assigned any sort of task, I take on that full responsibility, often carrying it with me much longer past the intended time. This is also pride, because it’s really a control issue. And for a long while, I thought it reasonable for me to think, feel, and behave this way because, well, “It only makes sense that I can’t trust the next person to do it like I did it!”; “How could they possibly do it better?!”; “Besides, if I don’t do it, who will?” ...and other haughty sentiments.
What I didn’t realize is that my thoughts, words, and actions were actually communicating something MUCH more contemptuous than even the above confessions... what I really believed in my heart is that God isn’t reliable or powerful enough for me to entrust all of these “things” to Him. I didn’t believe that He would be able to carry out His sovereign plan without me.
Go ahead, read that again... you read it correctly the first time: I. Thought. I. Was. Better. Than. God.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t walking around with those exact words ringing in my head, but the explication of my arrogant thoughts is the exact same! And you know what? The enemy has been whispering these same lies since he slithered over to Eve in the Garden. Unfortunately, just like her, I fell for it and took the fruit.
Through a continuous series of events in my life that the Lord has sovereignly ordained to draw me to the foot of the cross, He humbles me over and over again. He kindly directs my eyes to Christ, sends His Spirit of Truth coursing through every cell of my body, and tells me this:
I AM the Lord your God, there is none like Me.
I AM the Creator of all things.
I AM the Sustainer of all things.
I AM the sovereign Lord who is faithful to fulfill every promise I have made in My Word.
I AM responsible for and fully capable of carrying out my plan.
And I have chosen you...
...to be My own.
...to be a part of My plan.
...to be obedient.
...to walk in the good works I’ve prepared beforehand for
YOU to do.
...to submit yourself to MY will.
...to carry out MY good pleasure.
...to serve in MY Kingdom.
Whoa!! Reality check! Much like Job was told to “gird up his loins” before the Lord God basically flattened him with Truth, I have come out on the other side raw, hurting, and frail... but strengthened by the arm of the Lord and humbled by His Word.
Sometimes, things still happen that threaten to jerk me back
into the thinking that I am better... and my flesh relishes it. But Jesus has
given me His Spirit, so I can be victorious in dying to myself and living for
Him!
REJOICE WITH ME OVER THIS TRUTH! ✨
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
-Ephesians 2:10
