So while we’re talking about having grace with yourself and starting a new year and all, I thought it was high-time to pull out one of my faves – “Fall Afresh” by Jeremy Riddle.
Ever feel like you just need Him to breathe new life into you?
So very often I want to exhale every last ounce of me and inhale every bit of Him. In fact, my breath prayer these days has been “More of you, less of me.”
Most days, I’m more of me. But I’m trying.
Last night, JJ was reading a story called “The King and the Crow” from The Children’s Book of Virtues (now before you start to think we should be on a poster for Focus on the Family, let me set you straight. I had to give Samuel the “mom” look on more than one occasion and Spencer kept doing flips over my legs while Sarah rolled her eyes at their antics.)
In his hasty anger, the thirsty king killed the very crow that had been interfering with his drink of water. It wasn’t until after the bird died that he realized the water he was about to drink had been poisoned—and the bird had been trying to save his life.
The moral? Quick to anger is never good. And when we take action while angry, it’s worse.
This might be one of my biggest thorns. Self-control when angry. Yuck.
And so whatever’s your thorn, that thing you keep asking God to remove from your side but think He’s not listening because He doesn’t, ask Him to “fall afresh” and perhaps you’ll being to see why its there.
Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
It’s in the breathing of new life that we love Him more for who He is and a funny thing happens . . . We begin to see ourselves through His own eyes.
Thorns and all.
glory to our savior! u r very right for it is is his grace thst takes us every step of every 24hr days he blessed us with. i am a 56yr old grandma who has raised fivr miracles of my own and now have the blessing of helping raise my grandbabies what a glorrious blessing god loves me to have blessed me with with these tresures. yes for sure through his grace mommy we can and will conquer!!! flora from bakersfield ca god continue to bless us all.
Oh, I’m basking in these, your words: “So very often I want to exhale every last ounce of me and inhale every bit of Him. In fact, my breath prayer these days has been “More of you, less of me.”
Yes, sweet friend, YES!! That is my hope, my prayer!!
I LOVED the Childrens Book of Virtues! Awesome stories! And laughed out loud at your children’s antics. Your object lesson … ouch! LOL! Love you, Natalie!
So is this feeling and knowing of never measuring up or being enough for the people around me and those I love, is this is quiet call and whisper to come near to Him and draw on His strength, because HE IS enough?
I think it might be.
Thank you, for sharing Him, Natalie. :)
Hmmmm. This theme keeps popping up for me. I’m going to take to heart what you said about filling myself up with Him and allowing less of me. Loved this post!