November 28, 2008

“But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! Jude 20-21 The Message

Where are you “keeping” your life…?

God doesn’t hold anything back from inviting you to live a real life. He has given you His Holy Spirit to lead you so that you can live with your arms open and outstretched … not guarded and self-centered. This is the real life that Christ offers you. He shapes your worries into God’s concerns. Your life will only find wholeness and rest in Christ’s extravagant mercy. Your best efforts .. good intentions .. and constant striving will only wear you out and leave you exhausted and filled with worry. Jesus intends for you to live out of the renewing life of his Spirit. He intends for you to know real life in his Spirit. He intends for you to live a ready life by his Spirit. You will face any number of distractions .. concerns .. overwhelming worries today that will try to “keep” you from living out of God’s wholeness for your life. He doesn’t call you to try harder but to share you whole-heart with Him. He will settle you down … you won’t need to find a way on your own. It only takes a moment … to give the Lord all the concerns and cares of your life today.  

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.” Philippians 4:6 The Message

Ken Chester: Grace Gripped is sent M-F to Followers of Jesus and friends of Priority One (P1F.org)