Even though the Bible tells me that all have sinned and all fall short of the glory of God, I still have days where I can't wrap that around my stubborn mind.
I tend to lean towards perfectionism. Becoming a mother has beat a little bit of that out of me. My house isn't perfectly clean. My hair isn't perfectly poised. My body isn't perfectly tone. My memory has basically died.
I'm sorry what was I saying? (Point made...)
I struggle on the daily with the never ending to do lists. At various times, I write them on paper or have them in my phone, but the majority of them are chants running through my head of all pressing matters for the day. One of them today is, "Write a blog for Red Hills!" playing on repeat all day long.
So I sat and started reading Genesis again. A story about Noah or Abraham that I studied recently could make a fantastic blog. Share all my thoughts on these faithfully, obedient men!
...........sigh..........thinking.........aaarrrggggg.....
*beat head against invisible wall*
Nothing. God what is going on?! Why can't I have some divinely inspired post?! Why have I pushed this to the last minute or better yet it is a day late!! Why can't I keep my time schedules straight? Why does this feel like work when it is a blessing to do anything for your kingdom?
These lists of questions can become a long dark road of self contempt. Lead you to places that are not true about the person God created you to be.
So instead, I walked away from my computer and let those thoughts be still. I sat next to my baby and watched the movie Sing. (Side note: cute movie. Watch it.)
Once the movie finished, it was as if God dropped this into my mind. We ALL fall short of God's glory. I like how this version reads:
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Romans 3:23 NLT
God's glorious standard. It can't be beat or even met! So now what? Let's keep reading:
“Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
Romans 3:24 NLT
Now if that doesn't send chills down your spine, I don't know what will. Let it sink in today. Sit on it. God in all his glorious splendor freely makes us right through his son. Fantastic! Walk in that freedom today and when the thoughts of self destruction hit you, punch them in their lying faces with God's truth!
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Philippians 4:8 NLT
-Ashlyn Forstall