Sometimes I feel overwhelmed… obviously… you can read from a couple of posts prior to this. But my feelings of anxiety are not always due to tasks or circumstances. Sometimes I feel like even being a Christian is “too much.” Sometimes the RULES of holy living can be pretty daunting. Colossians tells us to put to death sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, idolotry, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lies. We should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. And love in itself is described in 1 Corinthians 13 as being patient, kind, humble, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love doesn’t delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth; always protecting, trusting, hoping, persevering, and never fails. I look at the ten commandments and think I’ve got those covered (naturally, I’m not carving any wooden or golden image to worship, not going to murder, I have no desire to commit adultry, and I’m probably not going to steal any time soon), but keeping God first always, revering his name, keeping Sundays for worship, rest, and renewal, and not coveting what other people have can even be challenging. Whew! I’m so imperfect and have so much to change and improve! It’s enough at times to leave me a little hopeless and wanting to respond with, “Forget it; it’s impossible for me to live up to all that.”

However, I’ve come to realize in the last few days that it’s not about me. It’s not about my power, or me “upping” my game and trying even harder. Because of Christ, I’ve been given a new LIFE (2 Corinthians 5:17). And that life is meant to be lived in the FULL (John 10:10). In my new life, I am created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). What, me, holy and righteous? Absolutely! when I accept the LIFE Christ has given me and live ACCORDING to who I am. I will continue to mess up and be imperfect. I will continue to say the wrong thing and think about and do things I shouldn’t. But I can rest in knowing that God forgives those things and forgets. And where I am imperfect, He is MIGHTY. Where I can’t, He is ABLE. His GRACE is SUFFICIENT… period. 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells me that I can boast in my weaknesses, for it is those moments that the POWER of Christ is made known.

Lois Evans said, “We obey God so that we can cooperate with His work within us.” If I simply live life according to the CAUSE of Christ, my decisions will then be dictated by that. And what REST I find in that! It’s not about what I can and can’t do. It’s not about how I’m good or weak at something. It’s about accepting LIFE and going forward with POWER because of who God created me to be. If I am reflecting Christ, I will be loving earnestly, encouraging, showing humility, not judging, and fleeing temptation… because it’s not about me.