Becoming More: In my heart

I’m doing a new study by Lysa TerKeurst for the next six weeks, and I’m already excited about what God is going to do with me in this study. I’m feeling stretched – and my sister always taught me that stretching is the best way to make the most of your workout. Stretching leads to building strength and endurance. It warms you up for whatever is on the horizon.

This week was all about becoming more than a ‘good Bible study girl’ in my heart. What does that even mean?

1. I felt God calling me to a deeper understand of my total security and worth in HIM – solely. “I want my beliefs to work no matter what life throws at me. I want to be so certain of God’s presence that I never feel like I have to face anything in my own strength or rely on my own perspectives …” I want to love God and know God is there even when things are not awesome: when I’m lonely, when I’m upset, when I’m scared. Total security. There was a lot of reflection about failure. How we attach failure of a task to our self-worth. We failed = we are a failure. But that’s not true. At all. That is what Beth Moore would consider bad math. “I separate my shortcomings from my identity and let Jesus be the only measure of my worth.” The ONLY measure.

2. It also means that God is only thing I will ever need. TRULY need. I love my husband. My family. My house. My church. My friends. My sweet, gangly (spell check says that is not a real word), bug-eyed dog. But I do not need them – meaning they do not offer me fulfillment.

3. It also means that things I want will also never offer fulfillment, at least not permanent. We will always want more. It – whatever it is - will always be just out of reach. “Apart from a thriving relationship with God, even if you got everything on your list, there would still be a hollow gap in your soul … possessions are meant to be appreciated and used to bless others.”

Here is the main question I felt completely convicted about – and felt called to action to answer:

“How might our lives look if we were so filled with God’s truth we could let go of the pain of the past, not get tripped up by the troubles of today, or consumed by worries about tomorrow?”

I want a real relationship with God. I don’t want to just “do the right things” and hope that I’m checking off all the good things I am supposed to be doing: going to church, praying, being nice, etc. Those are great. But something is missing.

“The true secret to fulfillment … involves no unrealistic expectations. Not reaching back for what was lost in my yesterdays. Not reaching for what I hope will be in my tomorrow. But living fully with what is right in front of me. And truly seeing the gift of this moment.”