I'm striving to be more than just a "good Christian girl".
Years ago when I first started my journey and walk as a Christian, I didn't fully understand it. I knew I loved God and I wanted forgiveness. Confess, repent, and be baptized, and BAM, I was a Christian.
Scary and humbling all at the same time....
That God would take and accept me and all the dirt within, and then wash me completely clean? And allow me to walk hand in hand with Him?
And I think...what did I even have to offer at that point?
Nothing....Absolutely nothing! I had nothing to offer Him except my heart. So I gave him my heart or so I thought.
I started following all the rules I thought I was supposed to abide by. I went to church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. I served in children's ministry, served on the praise team and more. I tithed 10%, didn't cuss, didn't drink, didn't smoke, etc. etc. and was offended by those that did. Yet I had my own sins. I was easily entrapped by pride and gossip. I also developed a judgmental heart through all of my legalistic rule following. I was a sinner yet I judged others for theirs.
Fast forward....through trials, afflictions and soul searching, I found Jesus. I found a RELATIONSHIP. I found a daily interaction of peace and fulfillment. I found the Jesus that calls us to love Him and love others. I found the Jesus that doesn't condemn me if I slip a cuss word or drink a glass of wine. I found the Jesus that wants to consume my heart so much that I don't have room for all the "rules".
You see, when we love Jesus and are earnestly seeking Him everyday, asking Him to fill all those nooks and crannies in our heart, asking Him to restore all the broken pieces, and we become so consumed with Him....we lose the desire for all the other stuff we thought were rules! We realize that there is true FREEDOM in Christ! Living in His peace, love and understanding is more than you could ever hope for.
And when you are living in a true relationship with Him, you start loving the people that the world sees as unloveable, you have compassion on the drug addict, the homeless, the afflicted, and the hurting. You start to LOVE like Jesus did. You begin to realize that He loves us ALL and the only way the world could begin to see that is through YOU!
I pray everyday that I can fill my daughters with an understanding of Jesus' love for them and help them to fully seek Him in this life. To let HIM fill their heart. I want them to become more than just a "good Christian girl". I want them to be defined as girls who are chasing after Jesus' own heart and women who choose to empower others to do the same.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””
Galatians 5:13-14 NIV
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
1 Peter 3:8 NIV
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2 NIV