Rewriting the tapes.

Our service and conduct do not earn salvation, but they are results of our salvation. I don’t do certain things or act a certain way so that God will love me. Rather, I am able to serve Him and grow in the Spirit because he loves me and died for me. That kind of thinking takes the focus off me and what I can do and puts it on God and what Christ has already done.

Instead of:

Hey God, did you just see that. Yep, I did that for you. Love me some more and prove it by giving me something. (Now, I would never say that out loud to God or anyone else, but I believe that is what I think sometimes.. oh, and then I don’t “get” something I feel that I have failed or that God doesn’t love me as much. YIKES!)

Rewrite that tape:

Wow God. Thank you for empowering me to do that.

Let me be honest here, sometimes I say the second one out loud or even pray it to God BUT my heart is still saying the first part. Yuck. It is definitely a battle but it is one worth fighting!