Big question for you:
What is the motive or spirit behind what you’re doing for God?
Don’t answer too quickly...really think about it...
Are you putting in effort in response to the tremendous grace you’ve been given?
OR
Do you subconsciously still think you need to earn your way into heaven or God’s favor? That somehow you still need to “pay” for your mistakes? That if you DO enough, He’ll give you what you want?
The truth is none of us get it right all of the time. But let’s walk through the difference.
Effort is our offering in response to His love, forgiveness and faithfulness. Like a new bride excitedly keeping house and cooking meals for her new husband.
I remember when I first got married. I was so excited to make the little place we were living in a home for us. I would look up new recipes in hopes of finding my husband’s new favorite thing to eat. It was easy to put the effort in because I loved him so much.
It didn’t seem like “work” at all. I WANTED to serve him and I wasn’t expecting anything in return.
Earning is doing things out of contractual obligation. If I DO this, then I GET that. That would look like a bride only doing things for her husband to get something from him.
We do not have a contract with Christ. We have a covenant.
When that bride cooks out of love, she’s patient, joyful, and generous. When she cooks to get something, she’s angry and frustrated when dinner doesn’t earn the response she thought it should.
The same thing happens with us. Effort that flows from gratitude makes room for the Fruit of the Spirit: patience, peace, right desire. Earning produces frustration when results don’t match our narrative, the story we’ve written about how this should go.
And when we do that, we put ourselves and our wants above God’s. (We might not even be doing it consciously! It’s a sneaky trap the enemy wants us to fall into.)
If there’s anything I’ve learned in my walk with God, it’s that our narratives can get us into A LOT of frustration and even mental suffering.
What matters is God’s purposes.
Anything God gives us is a gift, simply because He is so loving. Effort in response to His grace honors it. Earning cheapens the blood of Jesus. And we can’t do that, because it was immeasurably expensive. He paid it ALL for ALL.
Soooooo what if we’re in a season when our perceived effort doesn’t match what it used to be?
Maybe chronic illness zapped our strength. Maybe we’re in a season that demands more of our attention, like caring for a dying loved one.
What happens then?
Psalm 103:14
For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
God is not expecting you to do things that are not appropriate for your season.
If getting out of bed is a monumental effort, I highly doubt your calling at that moment is heading up an international ministry that requires 60 hours a week and flights all over the world. God can absolutely give supernatural strength, but don’t assume that’s what He’s asking of you right now.
You know what’s more likely to be your calling in that moment? Praying for that ministry from your bed. Encouraging someone who needs it. Mentoring a young woman from your church by texting her once a week.
THAT effort counts just as much, possibly MORE in God’s books.
Know how I know that?
The widow in Mark 12.
She had no money but still gave a few pennies. It was all she had. And Jesus said it counted as more than the massive amounts the rich people were bringing.
Friend, I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again...like the angel of the LORD told Gideon (Judges 6:14), go in the strength you HAVE.
You don’t need to EARN. Just RECEIVE.
And be obedient to what GOD has called you to do in your SEASON, not your made-up narrative.
Some questions to ask yourself:
What’s my motive behind what I’m doing?
Does GOD want me to do this in the season I’m in?
Where do I need to drop MY narrative so I can hear God’s voice more clearly?
I’m praying for you!
In passionate purpose,
Dorothy
LORD,
My motives and desires can get tangled. I want them to always line up with YOURS. Sometimes that’s hard when things aren’t going the way I thought they would.
In Jesus’ name, please change my perspective. Please align my motives with Yours. Help me be Your light no matter my season or circumstances.
Help me drop MY narrative and be obedient to everything You’ve called me to, simply out of love and honor for all You’ve done for me when I did not deserve it. Thank You, Jesus, for paying my ransom so I could be right with the Father.
Amen.
https://ignite.passionatepurposeschool.com/