Getting Out of Bed (revisited)
NOT AGAIN!!!! Another morning where I didn't wake up or get out of bed at the time I had planned to. This has been a chronic issue in my life (see my first ever blog post here) and while I am better at it more times than not, it is still an issue because of my tendency to indulge my fleshly desires and avoid challenging things. But today when I didn't get up on time, I didn't know which path to choose. I could think of a few options:
- take time to analyze why I keep doing this
- berate myself
- don't worry about it
The option I choose is very in keeping with the message that I sense the Holy Spirit is repeating to me over and over: remember grace. I choose to be gracious towards myself. What does this mean?
According to Google, grace (in Christian belief) is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
The Epistle in this Sunday's lectionary expresses it wonderfully.
Ephesians 2:1-10
2:1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins
2:2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.
2:3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.
2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us
2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
2:7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--
2:9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
2:10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
"By grace you have been saved..." God unconditionally loves us and made us alive with Jesus. He has given us the gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
So what does this have to do with my morning? My attitude towards myself needs to match God's. God is the authority and if He is loves me, forgives me, and is leading me into a life of good works, I need to believe this. Believing I am loved and forgiven doesn't negate the bad choices I have made or disregard the patterns of behaviour that I am in. Believing I am loved and forgiven empowers me to go on with my day at peace with myself and with the awareness that I don't need to continue down paths laid out by shame, fear, or pride. Grace gives me a clean slate and a fresh start! I am very grateful for this.
Now, I do think that there needs to be some attention given to why I do what I do, but it needs to be at an appropriate time and not dominate my thinking - giving myself all the attention when it was time to focus my attention on God and others.
So, the early morning battle/journey continues. I give thanks to God that it leads me to right where I need to be: living in and by His grace!
- take time to analyze why I keep doing this
- berate myself
- don't worry about it
The option I choose is very in keeping with the message that I sense the Holy Spirit is repeating to me over and over: remember grace. I choose to be gracious towards myself. What does this mean?
According to Google, grace (in Christian belief) is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
The Epistle in this Sunday's lectionary expresses it wonderfully.
Ephesians 2:1-10
2:1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins
2:2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.
2:3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.
2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us
2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
2:7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--
2:9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
2:10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
"By grace you have been saved..." God unconditionally loves us and made us alive with Jesus. He has given us the gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
So what does this have to do with my morning? My attitude towards myself needs to match God's. God is the authority and if He is loves me, forgives me, and is leading me into a life of good works, I need to believe this. Believing I am loved and forgiven doesn't negate the bad choices I have made or disregard the patterns of behaviour that I am in. Believing I am loved and forgiven empowers me to go on with my day at peace with myself and with the awareness that I don't need to continue down paths laid out by shame, fear, or pride. Grace gives me a clean slate and a fresh start! I am very grateful for this.
Now, I do think that there needs to be some attention given to why I do what I do, but it needs to be at an appropriate time and not dominate my thinking - giving myself all the attention when it was time to focus my attention on God and others.
So, the early morning battle/journey continues. I give thanks to God that it leads me to right where I need to be: living in and by His grace!
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