Grace Upon Grace

I need to be better at so many things.  Today, when I didn’t have a dinner plan and once again went to Chick-fil-a, I told myself, “You need to be better at this Emily!” It spiraled from there. I made myself a list of all the things I need to be better at.   I need to be better at meal planning and prepping.  I need to be better at eating healthy.  I need to be better at managing my time.  I need to be better at drinking water.  I need to be better at checking my emails.  I need to be better at responding to texts.  I need to be better with my money.  I need to be better at my "beauty routine". I need to be better at working out consistently. I need be better at being patient with my students.  I need to be better at being a teacher, a sister, a daughter and a friend.  And the list goes on and on.  Like I said, I need to be better at so many things.  My neck was hurting and my head was pounding.  I’m sure the fried food and diet coke really helped. 

Am I the only one that does this to myself?  Stresses my self out.  Exhaust myself.  Worry.  Fret.  Get annoyed.  And then throw myself a giant pity party and have it catered by Chick-fil-a?  Yes?  No? Please don’t let me be the only one! It’s exhausting, especially when you’re already exhausted.

 But wait.  But then.  But God.  Yes. Yes. Yes.

You know the great thing about God?  Besides like…everything?  He responds.  And in my moment of shoving Chick-fil-a soaked chicken strips in my mouth, He responded to me with one word.  Grace.  His grace.  That comes in waves after wave.  That is exactly what you need when you need it.  That meets you where you are.  That is more than enough.  And the wave of His grace that he poured over my Chick-fil-a stuffed mouth, it changed my list of things I need to be better at to a list of things I’m good at. To list of things He sees me as.  A list of things that I am created and purposed for.

A daughter of the King of Kings.  A child of God.  A women of inner beauty.  A priceless creation.  A perfect masterpiece.  An encourager.  A teacher.  A leader.  A disciple.  A dreamer.  Determined.  Inspiring.  Courageous.  Faithful.  Healed.  Fearless. Whole.  

If I believe that God doesn’t make mistakes…If I believe that God has made me for a purpose and with a purpose…If I believe that He has a plan to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a hope and future when I seek Him with all my heart…then I have to let go of the list I made.  I have to let to go of the thoughts; the lies actually; that I need to be more of something I’m not.  That I need to be different than who I am.  Although there may be some truth, some room for growth in my list, it’s not helpful. And it doesn’t define me.  

Instead, I choose to let His list take over my mind and my heart.  I let His list be the one I focus  on.  I let His list help guide my next steps.  His list is what He has called me.  His list is what He says I am  His list is what He has created me to be.  His list is the list that defines me.  His love defines me.  His grace defines me. I love His grace.  And I like His list much better. 

I pray that you not only receive, feel, and embrace his Grace, but that His lists be the only ones you concern your time with!

 And you get to enjoy your Chick-fil-a strips guilt free! 

-Emily 

"Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17 (NIV)