Today I write because I am committed to write. In the past, it was so easy to break promises I had made to myself. Usually because I was keeping them to or for others. What is one thing you want to do? What is the area you want to be consistent in? Where do you need to place your focus or make a change? Whatever that is, decide today is the day you will make it a priority. Get your calendar and physically write it down. I know this is easy to type and yet hard to actually do when it comes down to it and life begins to snowball. Just do your best sweet sister and today I do my best. This post will be shorter, but it will be done. I took the day to focus on relaxing and connecting with my family. To the boat we went and fun was had by all.
My prayer for today is we can stop LABORING to find our identities. I am chief sinner of this. I try to DO to please others and to please God. I try to COMFORT so others are made happy. I try to WORK to make others more comfortable. I try to accomplish things to look as though I have it all together. I want to EARN my way to good standings with others and to a right relationship with God. This isn’t reality with my family or with my heavenly Father. Yes, my husband enjoys coming home to a hot meal after a 12 hour day at the office and likes a decently clean house, but does that change that he loves and accepts me? Praise the Lord, NO! My God loves when I spend time with him or serve Him by serving others but does that change how he sees me? NOPE! Praise the Lord, He sees Jesus not me. He sees the CROSS and not my actions, thoughts or intentions. He even knows my motivations in my attempt at good and loves me despite it all.
My cousin and pastor, Phil Wade sent me a devotion this morning that I will steal a piece of because I can’t say it better.
It is essential for us to believe the truth as outlined by God alone and what He victoriously declares about who we are in Christ.
You are accepted.
You are chosen.
You are loved.
You are holy, blameless and redeemed.
You are COMPLETELY made new!
You, my fellow brother or sister in Christ are FREE!
FREE from trying to LABOR and EARN your salvation, forgiveness or love of God the Father!
We have been empowered to overcome sin and equipped to make revolutionary changes in our lives because of what Jesus has done for us and who we are as a result. Without this knowledge, it is so easy to continuously struggle with trying to define and live out our true identities or purpose in our own power. But with our identity in Christ, we have everything we need to completely transform our purpose and the direction of our lives!
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. and we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Give praise this evening, on this Labor Day, for a day off to reflect and reconnect as I hope you have had a chance to do. Give praise for all God has accomplished on your behalf and will accomplish through your life as you surrender it to him each and every day.
With our praise, may we commit our work to him as we are back at whatever it may be for you tomorrow. To labor well at school, work, in ministry, doing laundry, loving your neighbor, caring for your aging parents, nurturing your little ones – to labor well right where he has you in this season. May each day bring glory to God and may our cheerful spirit as we work in this space always be evident to those around us.
Can we walk through our Tuesday after a holiday weekend with a smile and an attitude that is contagious? Will our actions and drive cause others to question what is different about us? We do not labor in vain. We are where we are for a purpose!
I leave you with 1 Corinthians 15:58.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Did I mention I love you 1,000 elephants??
Well, I do and there is nothing you can do about it!
Now share a pic with me of your Labor Day fun! You can see our pics from our lake day on Instagram @rootedandrestless or find me in all places as myself, Tara Beasley Solomon.
Your Rooted and Restless friend,
Tara
I loved this one, JUST LIKE THE OTHERS… GO FORWARD, YOU LITTLE WARRIOR… RISE UP… and CHALLENGE US…. OH 🌞 BRIGHT ONE.
You are the best cheerleader! Love you!