I just received this word of encouragement from Kathy Butryn and asked if I could pass it on to my readers. I found it very helpful and I hope you do too.
Hi Girls!
I’m just checkin’ in with you…and want to share something with you that God so graciously reminded me of…again…this week. I just know that some of you need to hear this too.
This week I found a story/quote I want to share with you. Here it is:
“For a period of time, we were lucky enough to have a housekeeper. She would come in once a week to dust, vacuum, and clean every little out-of-the-way corner of our house. I dreaded the day she came, because my wife and I would spend all morning cleaning the house for the housekeeper! We didn’t want the house to be dirty, or what would the housekeeper think?!
We act the same way with God. We talk our way out of the spiritual life by refusing to come to God as we are. Instead, we decide to wait until we are ready to come to God as we aren’t. We decide that the way we lived yesterday, last week, or last year makes us “damaged goods” and that until we start living “right,” we’re not “God material.” Some of us actually believe that until we choose the correct way to live, we aren’t chooseable, that until we clean up the mess, Jesus won’t have anything to do with us. The opposite is true. Until we admit we are a mess, Jesus won’t have anything to do with us. Once we admit how unlovely we are, how unattractive we are, how lost we are, Jesus shows up unexpectedly. According to the New Testament, Jesus is attracted to the unattractive. He prefers the lost ones over the found ones, the losers over the winners, th e broken instead of the whole, the messy instead of the unmessy, the crippled instead of the noncrippled.”
– Michael Yaconelli from Messy Spirituality–God’s Annoying Love for Imperfect People
How have you been doing over the past three weeks while digging into Changed…by His Presence? Can you relate to the story/quote above? Do you find yourself coming to God “as you aren’t” instead of “as you are?” I sure do. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m striving to fix past mistakes; or “pulling up my socks” spiritually so I am more acceptable to God; or trying to live better so God can “use me more” because through my hard work, I’ve somehow proven myself to be “good and acceptable.” How easily I get caught up in that trap.
Just this past week, I needed to be reminded again that there is not one thing that I can do–or stop doing–that will “make” Jesus love me more; that will make me “more acceptable” in His sight. I decided I needed to pull away for a few hours, to talk to Him about it; to come to Him…just as I am; to be real with Him; to confess my attempts to “fix myself” or “be better.” And in His grace, once again I experienced His freedom and love…knowing I could just be ME with HIM!
Like I said at the beginning of this email, I’m pretty sure someone out there needs to hear this today as I did this week. Will you become vulnerable and available to Jesus today, will you lay aside all your striving…and just come to Him as you are? Take that time to re-align your heart to His. Jesus loves imperfect, messy gals!
Thank you Lord!
I love you all, and am praying for you as you choose to cultivate a devotional lifestyle…everyday!
hugs,
kath
Next m2s series: “With a Grateful Heart”
Thanks Kathy for being so willing to share this.
Finding Joy in the Journey,
Phyllis
I would love to have the opportunity to keep in touch with you. Please sign up to be notified of new entries and to receive my Free E-zine. (Your address will not be shared)
Phyllis Sather
Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness at:
http://www.Phyllis-Sather.com
Contact me at: Phyllis@Phyllis-Sather.com
I’m so glad you found this helpful – Bless you and I hope you have a better day tomorrow – or even the rest of today! Phyllis
Thank you, Phyllis, for sharing this. I have been having a very difficult day today and sometimes forget that God loves us just the way we are. I did need to hear this message!