A Beautiful Exchange

Last week I was slipping on my studying and spending time with God as I had got distracted with cooking recipes, researching healthy foods, and Instagram. I mean I was reading my daily devotional, the verse of the day and reading my bible here and there but it was out of "duty" and not out of a heart of "pursuit". Somehow, I took my eyes off Jesus and put it on the by-product of Jesus such as how well I was cooking and how I can better serve my husband by cooking healthier meals. Not even realizing that the reason I was cooking well was because of the grace of God and as long as I continued to cultivate my relationship with Him, He would give us grace to eat healthier meals as well. But God got my attention real quick as I slipped from His grace and was messing up: my attitude was bad, my sticky buns turned out awful, I was eating bad, I was just pitiful. I crawled back like God what's happening His response: "If I slip from Him, I slip from grace. Grace is only there to avail me to spend more time with Him, not for me to spend my time doing my own thing. And it dawned on me that I wasn't holding up my side of the bargain. And it didn't take long for me to get back with the program neither. 

Now let me explain in more detail: for a person not operating under grace, it would take them months, or even years to learn how to play the keyboard, or get a degree in business, etc. But here's the exchange that we make with God: if we give up all the time and energy we would have put into learning how to play the keyboard or whatever else that's consuming us and pursue Him, He'll give us the grace to play the keyboard or give us the grace and wisdom to run a business without ever being taught. Side bar: don't just give up everything and then expect grace to take over, it has to be initiated by God. God has to be inviting you or pulling at you to give up XYZ to read more, pray more, or whatever and "at that moment" is the exchange presented to you. It's not something you just wake up one day deciding that you're going to quit your job and everything you're doing to seek God. You'll be setting yourself up for failure. That's presumption, not faith and sadly enough I've learnt that through experience. Anywho, back to what I was saying, something that would take us months or years to learn in our own strength, He'll give it to you for free and effortlessly. That's why there are musicians or dancers that are naturally gifted and the ones that learned how to play or move by repetition. So the conclusion of the matter is "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added on to you." Matthew 6:33(KJV) 

I pray that this blesses you. I planted, another may water, but it is God who will give the increase. Stay encouraged!