Grace for the Good Girl: So That or Just Because?
August 1-15, I’ll be blogging as I read through Emily Freeman’s Grace for the Good Girl. Each week, I’ll give away a free copy of her book! Enter via the Rafflecopter here.
“Striving characterizes the law, whereas rest characterizes grace.
The law places responsibility on me to do, but grace is given by the initiative of God and invites me to be….
Under the law, I struggle in vain attempts to control my behavior. Under grace, my life is an easy expression of the Spirit.
The law says obey. Grace says believe and obedience will follow….
Jesus came to fulfill he law so we don’t have to look at it anymore. I no more listen to what the law is saying. I listen to what Jesus is saying.”
Reading these words from Chapter 6 “The Rule Follower” got me reflecting on some ideas from Day 2: Chosen and Day 3: Complete of May’s PURSE-onality Challenge.
Nothing to Prove
You are wanted.
You belong.
You are chosen.
Now you choose:
Do you believe Him when He says you are chosen?
Do you believe Him when He says you are chosen?
If so…
- …you can quit trying so hard!
- …you can quit being so hard on yourself!
- …you can quit being so hard on others!
You have nothing to prove.
So that vs. Because
Some of you resonated with the assurance “you can quit trying so hard!”
I’m discovering that “trying” has two entirely different motivations:
Trying so that…
or
Trying because…
When I’m trying so that I will be loved or chosen or complete, I find myself trapped in escapes and addictions, vacillating wildly between restriction and indulgence.
But when I’m trying because I am loved, chosen, and complete, I am transformed into who God truly created me to be.
Just Because
Back in May, I mused on Facebook: Why do I keep exhausting myself trying to do what God’s already done?
More recently, I’ve been wondering: What if I lived every moment of each day just because?
- What if I teach not so that my students will perform well but because I am full-to-overflowing with God’s love?
- What if I speak not so that audiences will perceive me as competent but because I can’t contain my gratitude for what Christ has done?
- What if I parent not so that my children will launch well but because I’m overwhelmed by the mercy God has shown me?
- What if I wife not so that Daniel will be happy but because I am full of all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit?
Not so that.
Nothing I do can alter–or add to–what Christ did on the cross.
When He said, “It is finished,” He meant it really is finished!
Just because.
Your Turn!
- Based on Emily’s contrasting of the law vs. grace, how are you living?
- Do you spend your time trying so that or trying because?
- Anything else on your heart!
I’m such a good law follower it’s often left little room for grace. It’s a daily battle and recognition that I obey because I love the Lord, not because it earns favor with him. Again, it’s a daily…sometimes minute by minute endeavor.
I am somewhere in between and trying to figure out where grace a law part. I want to exist well with others because I am loved by the One who showed is how, but I struggle with not wanting to “step put of line” as well, so that others will be happy and I often wonder if that is law or grace. God surely doesn’t want me to be unhappy but is letting others have their happiness in place of yours grace, law or neither.
I am somewhere in between and trying to figure out where grace a law part. I want to exist well with others because I am loved by the One who showed is how, but I struggle with not wanting to “step put of line” as well, so that others will be happy and I often wonder if that is law or grace. God surely doesn’t want me to be unhappy but is letting others have their happiness in place of yours grace, law or neither.
I’m still living law. :- It’s hard for me not to.
Can’t wait to read this book! I know it is going to be a blessing. Thanks for sharing.
This really struck me today….. I struggle with perfectionism and the law! I love how this message is portrayed! Thanks for sharing and reminding me to live because not so that!!