GodBlog

It’s already done - stop striving

In church this morning, I was reminded of something by someone standing up and speaking the words he felt God had given him. He reminded me that I am forgiven by God for all the evil in my life - my thoughts, my mixed motives and everything else I dislike about myself. God’s son Jesus paid the price for everyone’s sin once and for all - and that’s it.

Sure, we aim to live the best way we can with God’s help, but there is no sense in which we are trying to earn forgiveness from God - it is a gift already given.

I have been plagued with doubt about my fitness to be a “child of God”. Sometimes my own unworthiness simply overwhelms me. Sure, I have good intentions, but I seem to fail so much.

Then, at times like this morning, I get a glimpse of Father God smiling at me, and reminding me that He loves me. I mean, He sent that message to me and made sure it hit home. It’s mind-blowing to think that he personally cares about me enough to speak to me directly.

Once again.

Real. Real. Real.

The grass is greener right HERE

I have decided to give myself a little wake-up call.

I'm living in a rented house right now, my work is sporadic and I have limited facilities. Our house back in Huddersfield is not yet sold and Liz has not got a full-time job up here in Northumberland.

I often find myself thinking:

"When all those things have fallen into place, then I can really start living and life will be great."

I'm not sure I could be more wrong.

The truth is here and now - nothing in the future is guaranteed. Life has never worked out the way I thought it would - why would it be any different now?

So here's the wake-up call:

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."
Matt. 6:34

So...I really should worry about today, and do what I need to do today with a sense of purpose. I am all too keen to wish today away and hope for things to be better in the future. That really has to stop.

It's time to accept where I am now, and to start enjoying it. Time to take my life "off hold".