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Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. ~Philippians 1:12-13

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ my dear sister!

Have you ever experienced a time or event in your life where you just closed the door on it and moved on to a higher goal? Turned your attention to something else? Decided to just put it out of your mind?

I have done that, never realizing that simply walking away from a situation, instead of walking through a situation with Him, doesn’t allow God to work out His will and His good pleasure for me. Instead of allowing God to add value to my life, I allowed myself to subtract from my relationship with my Father by not letting Him be involved in that area of my life.

Wow, when that’s plain in sight in black & white, brought out into the Light, how could I have done that?? I thought that God was sovereign over every area of my life! I would have said if you asked that I withhold nothing from Him! Yet, in this particular situation I thought, “I can handle this, yes, I know this is God’s will for me, thank you God, I’ve got it!” 

“I’ve got it”. Exactly the wrong attitude. For it is GOD who is at work in me, to do His good will and for His good pleasure! If I allow Him. Allowing Him, submitting to Him, is the working out of my own salvation! With reverence and awe, being careful to allow Him to do His work in me. Trusting Him, with total submission to His ability to work out what He wants in me, not me working out what I think He wants in me. Do you see the difference?

Although it seems like a good idea, working out of my human compassion, my human mercy or my human love sometimes is misleading. Working out of my own strength does not glorify God, but allowing Him to work in me brings about His will for me and pleases Him! And, truthfully, the Lord is a much more loving, just & compassionate taskmaster than I am to myself!

I have recently learned, so I am reminding myself “out loud” that as I go through the deep waters in my life, I need not try to navigate them in my own strength hoping that God will eventually get me to the other side. 

While I’m in the midst of the torrent, even while I’m hanging on, I will repent of my fear, my complaining, and my attempts to steer my course! Then, the Lord will bring me through without the mud of resentment, twigs of confusion tangled in my hair or the regret of trying to manage the waves myself. I will remember that it is God who is at work in me as I submit myself to His good will and pleasure. 

Because He loves me more than I love myself.

Thank you Lord for never giving up on us! Help us as we strive in our lives to bring glory to You!

With love, your sister, Celeste