...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father... Colossians 1:11-12a
We Christ-clinging ones, we have heard and believed and desire to live a life worthy of the Lord, though we know we will never live a life worthy of Him. We have become fruit-bearers by His Spirit and have begun to be filled with wisdom and understanding and are being strengthened so that we may...
Have the best family we can?
Have a happy marriage?
Have obedient children?
Have a successful career?
Be financially secure?
Have a successful ministry?
Be healthy and happy?
No! Oh how selfish I am even with His grace!
Oh how I have missed the boat so many times. So many times my thoughts begin to drown in a sea of contempt due to all the expectations I unknowingly had when the gospel-boat, the Ark of Christ came to me. I'm so thankful He is restoring me, despite my proud ear-lopping reactions to His will to take up my cross and follow Him. I'm so thankful He still says, "Feed my sheep." I hang my head in shame, but he lifts my head and talks of love and what His power in me is for. Three things.
Endurance.
Patience.
Joyful-Thanksgiving.
That Holy-Spirit power is not for what I think it may be for. He's here in me so I can endure the loss of the very things I mistakenly thought He was going to give me.
Will I endure? Only with His glorious power.
Will I be patient? Only with the strength of His might.
Will I give Joyful-Thanks? Only if I see what His power in me is really for. And when I see it; when I see that Christ-like endurance press through my depraved flesh; when I see the godly bend-down-to-be-the-servant like my Servant King patience take it's knee-stand in me, bearing with another fallen Imago Dei one, then I will be gushing with joyful thanksgiving.
For there's really nothing else this redeemed one desires this side of heaven than to be redeemed, to glorify Him, to be a reflector of His grace to another.
Quieted,
Sheila
