A Holy Life?

You're calling me to lay aside
The worries of my day
To quiet down my busy mind
Find a hiding place
Worthy, You are worthy

Open up my heart
And let my spirit worship Yours
I open up my mouth
And let a song of praise come forth
Worthy, You are worthy

Of a childlike faith
And of my honest praise
Of my unashamed love
Of a holy life
And of my sacrifice
Of my unashamed love 

These are lyrics I have sang many times, but this morning these words seem to present a challenge.  Are the things these verses talk about things that characterize my life? He is worthy of all of it, yet I cannot seem to give it all to Him. What does a holy life look like? I am struggling to find an answer.  It certainly can't be mine, can it? Mine is marked by failure to obey, failure to put Him first, failure to desire His will before anything else, failure to give Him my full attention...many failures on my part.  How can my life be holy? These verses comes to mind.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

Back to the question, how can my life be holy?  Answer: Jesus.  He loved me and died for me. After I surrender my life to Him, my life became holy.  The Holy Spirit entered my body and it became holy. So, I guess a holy life is one that is sold out for Him.  One that is full of Jesus and the very Spirit of God inside me.  So, full of everyday failures, but full of confession and constant reliance on the salvation He gives. This is my conclusion of what a holy life looks like.  Less of me..more of Jesus. 

His plans vs my plans

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

I have been learning a lot about my plans versus God plans and how to think about them. I have always had a serious problem with trying to figure out God's plan.  I frequently plan the future.  If you have been following God for any length of time you know how pointless this is and yet I proceed to do so pretty consistently.  God has recently brought this sin into the light and has been doing some extensive work on my heart.

Lesson 1: He reveals His plans in His time.

At the beginning of the summer I thought I was going to figure out what I was going to do a year from now.  I was easily going to seek God's heart and figure out if I would be going grad school or overseas. Well, God doesn't work like that.  I think He laughs lovingly at my ignorance. It is now 2 weeks before school starts and I am not a whole lot closer to figuring it out. And that is the way He wants it.  He has shown me that I will know His plans when He is ready to reveal them to me and not a moment before. Even if I struggle and struggle to try to figure it out before, He will not show me. And knowing Him He probably has something completely different in mind.  Who knows? I certainly do not! 

Lesson 2: He prepares our heart for His plans

As stated in previous posts I am moving back on campus in 2 weeks! If you had told me a year ago that I would be moving back to campus I would have thought you were crazy.  It has been a process getting my heart in line with God's plans. I obviously wanted to do it, but a week ago I had a  lots of tears. Then yesterday God just gave my heart this unbelievable excitement for moving back.  Our lives as Christ followers are to be poured out as a drink offering.  The joy I feel in anticipation of the way He will do this the next year is hardly bearable! I could seriously move in tomorrow I'm so stinking pumped for the school year! But once again I'm gently reminded to slow down and learn what He wants to teach me today :)

By trying to figure out the future I miss the blessings and lessons in today.  In trying to figure out the future I miss the ways He is trying to prepare me for it. I may not know what my future holds, but I know that the One who plans it is preparing me for it in ways that I cannot possibly imagine.  So I will look for Him in today and try to learn what He is teaching me today and wait patiently.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably 

more than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations,

for ever and ever! 

Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Kisses from Katie BOOK!

So this lady has a book!! I have already pre-ordered mine on Amazon! You should do the same or at least check out her blog.  I have shameless mentioned her blog about 5 times on my blog, but only because it is so stinking good! :)