I don’t know why God trusts me with so much . . . why he would allow me the privilege of sacred participation, this giving and extending of his kingdom to others. So very often, I feel ill-equipped and under- qualified—rough around the edges, frayed ends, frazzled thoughts. This is who I am most days, a tangled mess but for the beautiful grace of Jesus who lovingly and willingly applies himself to my untangling until the knots are free.
God doesn’t walk away mid-process. He’s a finisher. He keeps stretching me, moving me, challenging me, and changing me from the inside out. I offer him my consent, because I know there’s work to be done and because, without the Lord’s prod, there’s no soul gain; just stagnation, just plowing up that same old piece of ground and patch of soil that’s been tread upon again and again by my stubborn inability to fix myself.
Will we ever get to the end of this, Lord, this hard work of grace?
I can no longer pretend that it’s not hard. Grace is free and comes swiftly to our aid, but grace is also a meddler. Grace won’t leave us alone; it requires a response—a holy, sacred “Yes” to previously spoken “Nos”.
Full grace equals full change; full conversion; fully and willingly broken open and spilled out so that God has the opportunity to pour into our earthen vessels his holiness, his revisions, and his version of who we are. We are kingdom carriers and kingdom dispensers. To carry less and to give less is to betray our King.
Oh to wake up to our privilege and to our responsibility therein!
The hard work of grace. The good work of grace. My allegiance is fixed to the cross, and my heart is pledged to the kingdom road. Accordingly, I’ll keep moving forward, tethered to the expectation that what I currently cannot see growing in me has already been seen by God.
Indeed, I don’t know why God trusts me with so much; I only believe this to be true . . . that he does, in fact, trust me with the story of grace. And even when his “much” has seemed too much for me, his grace has always been sufficient to move me beyond my limitations in order to allow me a moment or two of kingdom influence. I don’t need to know the results of those moments; I just need to stay obedient to his call.
May the God who created the kingdom, the Christ who brought the kingdom to earth, and the Holy Spirit who sustains the kingdom in each one of us, strengthen you, straighten you, and empower you to spend your kingdom inheritance on those who’ve yet to take hold of their royal privilege. Amen.
Love this Elaine. Love how real you are. xo
Elaine, love your thought that grace is a meddler, that it requires a response. So thankful that grace meddled in my life!
Amen, amen. I love you.
Yes, I am so thankful God doesn’t leave us as He finds us. I can’t even describe the mess I would be in. Beautiful post, dear friend.
“We are kingdom carriers and kingdom dispensers. To carry less and to give less is to betray our King.Oh to wake up to our privilege and to our responsibility therein!
The hard work of grace. The good work of grace. My allegiance is fixed to the cross, and my heart is pledged to the kingdom road. Accordingly, I’ll keep moving forward, tethered to the expectation that what I currently cannot see growing in me has already been seen by God.”
Your words so capture my heart and my soul. My greatest desire is to be doing His work above all else. Love this post Elaine!!
Pamela
That girl has been with Jesus! Preach on sister Elaine. God is at work in your life, that’s for sure.
His work of grace is so amazing. How thankful I am that He chooses to use ordinary people to share His message of grace. May we listen and …obey His call on our lives.
I loved hearing you and seeing you in action.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Elaine…. I’m with Debbie … ^^ …
This is one powerful message. I so needed this today!!!
Father YAHWEH, Adonai, here I am… Use me! Praise Yeshua!!
Amen. They took note that SHE has been with Jesus. I love that. We walk away from intimacy bearing His fragrance…with the power in his hem resting on us. <3 Oooh Aaah!
great post, Elaine. Indeed grace is a meddler. It will not leave us alone, it will mold us, change us, redirect us.
I have been reading your book. You have been faithful to take good care of your heart. You have been entrusted with much.
Blessings for the journey ahead.
oh… this is good…
“We are kingdom carriers and kingdom dispensers. To carry less and to give less is to betray our King.”
I sure loved SEEing and HEARing you in action… what a blessing… the runner up to Beth Moore 🙂
hugs, Patrina ><