clarity

Psalm 19:8
The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight to life. NLT

7-9 The revelation of GOD is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of GOD are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of GOD are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of GOD are plain
and easy on the eyes.
GOD's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of GOD are accurate
down to the nth degree. (Message)


Ok so I’m having a great moment of clarity here. We are called to abide in Christ. That may sound very elementary, but I think that a lot of us don’t really do it. But we do long for it. And I think we all recognize it when we meet someone who really is abiding. Who is giving free reign to the Holy Spirit in their life.

Now I realize that I’m an idealist and that I long for the perfect moments in life. I am slowly learning to cope with this in my life and see the good moments in the ‘less than ideal’ and realize that perfectionism is not the answer, but a life of making excellent offerings to our God is good (check this out for more on perfectionism from JD Walt).

For most of my life I have been taught, been mentored in, and generally witnessed the grin and bear it style of life. That at best we can hope for a life of toil and moderate achievement and at the end of the day we get critical of what could have been better. I am good at criticism. Really good. ‘well that was good but this or that could have been better…’

But my soul is hungry, starving even, for a better way. A way that is thankful as a child is for ice cream or mac and cheese. A way that abides in the goodness of God (which is never not present) and has a heart wide open to that goodness – to receive revelation and guidance for every moment, and to work, live, love, and do ministry out of a place of abiding in the Holy Spirit.

To dream, and work to bring those dreams to reality. To live above circumstance, not in an escapist kind of way, but in a way that sees the Way and follows that, not reacting to moments but following the lead of a Good Shepherd.

So where does hard work come in? It is still required! I can work hard for the commands of my LORD, and at the end of the day I have a satisfaction that is life giving, not life draining. A hired hand will walk away at the end of the day collecting only his pay, but a true son, who I desperately want to be, is forever invested in the interests of his Father.

This is what I want to invest my life in. I could spend it on many things, but I freely choose, gladly and joyfully, with a true heart of thanks, to be available, abiding in the Father’s love, the Son’s friendship and sacrifice for me, and the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Yeah.