This week of homework was so full of things that stood out to me that it’s hard to pick just one thing, but since I’m not looking to write a novel I’ll choose one.
You know how certain things mean more depending on what you’re going through or something that’s recently happened? That’s how this week of homework was for me.
On Day 1 of Week 2, Beth writes, “Even those most serious about their pursuit of God and godliness fail to be perfect examples all the time. That’s why God is busy conforming us into the likeness of Christ alone. None of the rest of us can bear the burden of constancy.”
It’s not that anyone has let me down recently or I’ve watched someone I admire fall, although I’ve had those moments in my life. I just read those words at a moment when I was feeling very weak, very fallible, very inadequate.
It served as a good reminder to me that not one of us is perfect. Even the people I look up to the most have their moments when they do or say the wrong thing. We are all human and sometimes we all feel like we’re failing to live up to what God has called us to be.
The cry of my heart for the last year has been something I heard my pastor say in church, “Lord, I’m not infallible, but I am available.” I know that in my own strength I am completely incapable of being anything other than a hot mess most of the time, but I also know that He promises that in my weakness, He is strong.
So I let him know that I’m available for whatever it is He’s trying to accomplish.
And this week I needed to be reminded that Christ is the only one who can “bear the burden of constancy”. Keeping my eyes on Him will help me look more like Christ, but nothing is going to make me perfect. He doesn’t require it.
He wants to use me anyway.
Any thoughts from this week?
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I feel like I’m commenting way late, but I’m just in the middle of week two.
The thing that hit me hardest so far was the personal question on day one. I have a three year old son and an eight month old daughter and I’m already wondering about how to teach them about beauty, especially women’s beauty.
How do I explain to my son, when he comes in the bathroom and wants to do what I’m doing, that only women wear makeup? Or, when the time comes, to my daughter why one day she’ll need makeup but not until she’s older? What is the magic point at which we all of sudden need these things? Why do I need cleansers and anti-oxidants and moisturizers twice a day to make my skin look good, and my husband can get away with using anti-bacterial hand soap on his face and look great??
Still struggling with this, and probably will be for the next 60 years or so…
We’re doing this same study right now. I’m in week 3. The thing I have already got out of this study in the first 2 weeks is that even though I didn’t think I needed it..I needed it!
It is tough trying to live a life of perfection. But, it’s also a blessing that we don’t have to in His name!
Week 2, day 4 was the highlight for me – Esther being loved by the king and also finding favor and kindness with him – amazing. I loved how Beth had us end the day imagining we were Esther (now I’d imagined many a fairy tale princess; but this was cool) to think I was crowned queen and write in our royal journal. The Lord gave me this prayer: Lord, I am so grateful for Your abundant favor, You give me royalty like Yours to savor, You have me living in the king’s house, Taken from orphaned obscurity where I was tucked away like a mouse, The queen’s crown now rests upon my head, Lead me on Lord – only You do I fear, no dread, You set in motion this fairy tale life, And You’ve purposed for me to be the king’s wife, Help me Lord to listen to You and do Your will, Though my heart is a flutter, before You, O KING, Keep me still.
I just started week 2 today. I really got hung up in the “beauty treatments” part. When Beth asked us to list the things we have in our house I chuckled. The list would be too long for the amount of paper this lipstick wearin’ momma has in the house. Besides with all this stuff going around about “going green” I hated the thought of being responsible for the loss of so many trees. But seriously, it comes down to believing the truth over a lie. We have been sold a lie about our true worth. Take His word and take those negative thoughts CAPTIVE girls. I wrote a lot more today on my blog but I am running short on time right now. Need to go reapply the lipgloss…..Just kidding!
I just did day 1 of week 2 this morning… and it was perfect timing (just like God!) and then I read your post! WOW just the encouragement I needed! Thanks! : )
I have been beating myself up all week… I want more than anything in the whole world to “Love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength!” and I feel as if I am always failing in that area! Between Satan and my flesh man… why can it be so hard sometimes! Does anyone else ever feel that way? (it may just be me and my hormones!) Anyway…
Thank you for making yourself available Melanie… God used your post to speak to my heart this morning! I am grateful!
God Bless- Emmy : )
I want to be available too.
I can’t wait to do this study!
My favorite part was on day five where Mordecai is overlooked for revealing the assassination plot. Beth says Esther had to have been frustrated and “at times nothing takes more discipline than giving someone information without telling them what to do with it.”
Recently an authority in my life has made a decision that’s been tough to swallow. But I have to let go of the need to try and control the situation by convincing him otherwise. Submitting to the decision has been hard! But through this time of submission, God’s given me the opportunity to examine the motives of my own heart and believe through faith that this is His providence.
In the past year I have really been struggling with my anger. I wasn’t sure where it was coming from but today’s lesson really helped me see that my anger results in meaness and meaness perceives a threat. Today I asked God to show me who is my rival and why do I feel so threatened. Pray that God will open my eyes so that I may be the mother and wife God desires for me to be.