DAY 24…DANCE OF GRACE

“I’m not good at that, I’m better at what I’ve been doing…” said me when I was encouraged to apply for a position. I mean, it made sense. I wanted to give my best and I knew where I really do well, and to apply for a position that I don’t feel qualified to even apply for, it just made absolute sense…until that moment…

It was the reminder of my seemingly innocent statement that only revealed self preservation. Here it was, an opportunity rather to see, “In my weakness, HIS strength is made perfect.” Of course I so badly want HIS STRENGTH to be made perfect, who doesn’t, right? Yet for me this seems like such a dangerous prayer. It destroys the flesh, it pulverizes the people pleasing and approval mindset…you know that fear of, “I don’t want to fail anyone.” It’s that point in which I am so worried about not pleasing people. I, I, I…I want to look my best so I don’t fall prey to potential ridicule or criticism. It’s such a lacking perspective, isn’t it?

Well, for the rest of that day and into the next morning, that moment kept coming back to me. So it was as though I felt the LORD sitting me down and I was led to repent and renounce that confession of, “I’m not good at that, I’m better at what I’ve been doing…”

You may be asking, “Teresa, you’re just being honest, what’s wrong with that?” Well, I’m glad you asked. Here’s the “why”: I was reminded that this is not what a follower of Christ says, because they can’t say it. They’re following JESUS and there’s too long of a history of how HE’s always been faithful to reveal HIS strength in the midst of my weakness over and over again.

It was that moment in which I was made aware that I get to say, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” That scripture is not a cute cliche; it’s a powerful declaration of the abundant life we get to live in Christ. It’s no longer making excuses to my humanity but leaning into GOD’s divine power! It’s not denying Christ and HIS power even in that.

In this prompting, it was as though I heard Holy Spirit’s words go something like this, “Teresa, you’re right, you can’t do that, but that’s the point…when you can’t do it, and you’re given the opportunity to step into it, it’s really ME inviting you to dance with ME. That’s where MY GRACE is seen; the GLORY OF GOD is seen in the moments where you can’t in your own ability.”

That is where the stretching takes place for the purpose of growing in stature in Holy Spirit just as Jesus did within the earth. GOD gets the glory; HIS glory isn’t seen when I am comfortable but when I am uncomfortable as it causes me to lean into HIS power. It is not by my power or might; but by HIS Spirit. We get to find Comfort in the GREAT COMFORTER in the midst of our discomforts.

I believe I write all this to remind me, “Make every decision from the position of abundance and not lack.”

II Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:13; II Timothy 3; John 9:1-12; Zechariah 4:6; Luke 2:52; John 14:26

Are there things you have been given the opportunity to step into, but said, “No” because you couldn’t do it in your own strength?

Write those moments in your journal and simply ask GOD to forgive you. He loves to forgive; to give you more of HIMSELF.

Do you see the “invites” to do something you can’t do in your own strength as now an invitation to HIS dance of grace? How do you see GOD now in those situations?

To love people that are unloveable; to forgive those who are unforgiveable can only be done in HIM. Let’s lean into GOD’s power and let HIS divine nature be seen in the midst of our humanity.