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Now only two chapters in...I see once again that GOD'S PLAN IS NOT FAULTY! He really knows what he's doing with divine time and providence and all that jazz. He's good. period.
What is the book? Yes...a woman's book, "Having a Mary Spirit." Why am I defining it as a "woman's book?" Well i suppose just because of the feminine cover and author...but hey, it really is incredible for anyone (if you dare gentlemen.) lol ...But hey, if you don't dare, I understand as well (since the cover is half the reason I wasn't interested in the first place.) I don't know... there is just something about cliche "women's books," sometimes, that really don't draw me in? But hey... "DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!"... Great childhood lesson, I've obviously struggled to tackle.
ANYWAYS...the book... woo...it-is-for-me! The concluding section of chapter two touches on something so important, "Pressing On!"
Philippians 3:12-14 Paul says, "but i press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Author Joanna Weaver says this: (straight out of the book)
I press on. Those words echo in my heart, bringing me comfort and courage. No, I haven't achieved all my goals. I'm not yet perfect. I'm still a recovering Pharisee in many ways, still more eager to whitewash the outside of my life that to do the hard work of cooperating with God's inner renovation. But rather than giving in to the enemy's condemnation of my shortcomings, I am determined to "press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
My deepest fear is waking up twenty years from now still the same woman I am today. With the same annoying habits and petty attitudes; with the same besetting sins and false beliefs. I can't imagine anything more terrible that getting to the end of my life only to discover that God has so much more in mind for me-more freedom, more joy, more peace, more true effectiveness. And I missed it all, simply because I refused to change.
So I press on, and I hope you will too. Believe me, dear sister, we can trust God. If we allow the spotlight of heaven to shine on the dark recesses of our souls, God will scrub off the old layers of whitewash. He'll remove those pockets of Martha drivenness and Pharisee pride. By the power of His Holy Spirit, He will transform us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV)
Until one day, to our surprise, we'll wake up and realize that we look just like...Jesus!
(Hm...isn't that from 1 John3:2?)
I'm not saying it will be easy. Or fully accomplished here on Earth. Even with God doing the real work, we'll have to cooperate. We will have to change, and change hurts.
But i can promise you this. It hurts good.
What is God doing in your life? It is okay that everything isn't all perfect at once. It is a process. But it is important that we keep pressing on. Don't get so discouraged that all your ducks aren't in a perfect row? :) Step by step...day by day. As Weaver said, He knows I would be completely undone if He revealed all my sin at once. Like someone peeling an onion, the Lord reveals one layer of sin in my life at a time. He gently exposes my failings, my prejudice, and my pride. Then He invites me ot repent. To turn away from my destructive bent. TO take advantage of His grace and the new paths of life He shows me.
And then, step by step, to move toward becoming what I was meant to be."
