God's Grace

I was thinking over my life and thinking about the grace of God. I have taken for granted that very thing, the very thought of the grace that He has given me. It is so easy to see my life as what it was, instead of what it is, to see my failures, but God's grace has allowed me to be here today, to be here to love more, to except that I am not perfect, but God. I see my faults, but the grace of God is with me, not because it has to be, but because it is God, sovereign almighty God.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Though I am weak, He is strong. We strive to be the best of the best, better then others in different things, but in our weakness God is our strength. When we admit our weakness to Him to others, He is our strength. I will fail, but God is my strength. I may not be able to love as much as I should love, but Gods love is pouring from me, I may not be the greatest father, but God's is our father and in my weakness's He is my strength. It is when we admit our failures, when we admit we need help, that is when we are finally able to see that the help is there.

I have to admit that I am proud and it is so hard to ask anyone for help. It is so easy to think that I can do it alone, but when I admit I need help, then I am willing to recieve it. The Bible talks about this, in Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." When I am to proud to say I need help, that is when I am going to fall.

I have done it my way and allowing someone else to help me is so difficult, but it is so worth it. I reflect on the choices in my life and when I struggle the most is when I want to do it alone and on my own, because how could anyone understand me. Do you see the fault in that statement? There are several, I have made choices for others instead of allowing others to make those choices. I can't put words in their mouth and for me to do that is wrong. I need to allow others to help.

For example on Saturday I asked my girlfriend to help me finish cleaning my old apartment, just having her there motivated me, it helped me see that we can work together, it helped me communicate what I was thinking, instead of just doing it myself. The whole time it built a bond between her and I. If I had done it alone, that bond wouldn't be as strong as it is now. By allowing others, by allowing God, I see that my ways are not perfect, that I need to except the help and be thankful, because without the help I would be lost.

God has brought people into my life to help me, but it takes courage and guts to allow them to be the support I need. God's grace has been with me through it all. His love and His faithfulness, because I can't do this life alone, I can try, but I will surely fail. By allowing God and the people He has brought into my life, it is no longer the statement of "my way" it changes to "Your Way".

What I am saying reminds me of a verse from:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

"9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:

10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

I have listened to the lie in my life long enough, if I do it alone, then I can't get hurt and I don't need help, I am stronger when I do it alone (have you said this, have you heard others say these?). By not allowing others, I am hurting myself. It is time for a change and it is only by the grace of God that I can do this. For change has to start with me and it is only through the strength of God that this change can happen.