Celebrate Your Progress

Well the Engineer is busy building an ark today...I am not sure that I have seen this much rain ever...its just a coming down.  So while he is busy building an ark I am calling the hair salon...because all this humidity in the air has made my curls flare up and its more than this girly can take today!  But the appointment is not til next week...and by then I will be sailing away on the ark...living amongst the wild beasts of the earth and none of them will probably bat an eye at the curly mop on my head!

And for the regulars who are following my 'book review' of Eat the Cookie...buy the shoes you are wondering how in the world that is going to tie into to chapter 5...well most likely its not...unless it just happens to by the end of this post!

So chapter 5 is all about celebrating your progress.

One thing that has filled my mind and heart as I read and re-read this chapter again...is the question 'how have I progressed in my 33 years?'

To sum it all up there was a few moments that added up in my twenties that made me realize I was truly missing out on something.  I was tired of going through the motions, being the good girl, just following the rules.

I discovered there was more than religion.  There was a most amazing grace and love filled relationship with Jesus to be lived out daily!

How is that for some progress?!?!?

Friends it can be said of most of us...we are a work in progress.

There is purpose for celebrating progress.  Celebrating strengthens us. 

I can celebrate my progress with my thoughts.  After completing the Me, Myself and Lies Bible study I am more aware of my thoughts...ones that are time wasters, ones that are not pure and right, ones that are not God honoring, ones in which the enemy is trying to trash talk a daughter of the Most High! 

How is that for some progress?!?!?

I have room to continue to grow in this area.

"God isn't keeping a record of each time we fall, but He is excited about our progress, and we should be excited, too!"  (pg 40)

There are moments in which I find myself being humbled at the feet of Jesus much faster than in the past.  And I praise God for that change and progress...because its a sign that God is working in me!

Do you recognize the areas in which you have grown, changed?

Do you rejoice over your progress and change?

Living life with Jesus is a journey in which life will be 'shining ever brighter til the full light of day' (Proverbs 4:18)

Look over this past year of your life, can you see progress?

Here is a plug for journaling.  For me I need to keep a written record of what I am hearing, learning and going through...then I can look back and see where I was and where He has brought me!  There is a beautiful trend in progress while in relationship with Jesus, its all purposefully living at His feet and it always brings us closer to His heart!

Now be careful if you think you have made no progress, because that most likely means the enemy is lying to you.  The enemies purpose is to bring you down,  he does NOT want you celebrating your progress.

Celebrating strengthens us, while condemnation weakens us.

When we choose to celebrate we are looking for God in our life, and that is thanking Him for what He has done, is doing and will continue to do!

"As children of God we need to be committed to change.  Throughout our journey here on earth God's Spirit will be working with and in us, helping us change for the better." (pg 47)

Friends if there is something today that brings you encouragement...and a reason to celebrate I hope it is this:

we are not asked to do this in our own strength..we are not to change on our own...its not as if God has asked us to clean ourselves up and then come back and present ourselves before the Throne.  No my friends...we sit the entire time at His feet in His Holy presence and the One He purposefully sent will work in us...as a comforter, healer, adviser, teacher, coach, an intercessor! (John 16:7-13)

And as I strive to daily remember its not perfection in my human understanding, for Gods definition of perfect  means that I am willing, cooperating and growing!

My prayer,

Lord I pray that this will go into my heart by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. That my mind, thoughts, words, actions, and living will be honoring to You, and when its not that I will be made aware and correct it. Lord I love You and living my life on purpose is only possible because of Your love and grace for me. I pray that even though I know with my head that I am a work in progress and not complete until You bring me home to eternity, my heart feels the pain and struggle of the continual shifting and changing. It is unsettling and uncomfortable and purposeful and right all at the same time. I praise You Lord for Your mighty hand and presence in my life. May I continue to become less and You More.  Amen

May we desire to live in such a way that the progress we make is celebrated because we keep getting deeper in relationship with our Maker.