Dying to Liveনমুনা

Living “FROM” Him versus “FOR” Him

Our beliefs are the water we swim in. It is easy to sometimes feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. We try our hardest to live the best life possible. Then, we try even harder. 

Years ago, I was in a very desperate place in my life. So many of life’s disappointments were piling higher and higher. It felt like I was carrying the weight of a piano on my shoulders. I was overwhelmed and exhausted. I was ready and more than willing to hear God’s whispers for newness and freedom. But I just tried harder. I was attempting to live “right” by living righteous. I was doing all the right things but often getting the wrong results. How could this be? I was running so hard, juggling so much, spinning so many plates. Don’t I get an “A” for effort?

How many of us grew up on the “performance treadmill“, trying to be “good for God?” This is truly an exercise in exhaustion. We feel empty and never quite enough. We are always enough when He lives through us for His greater purposes. We are rarely enough when we live in our own strength. His Holy Spirit is the gift in us. Christ in us is our hope for glory!

God’s work WITHIN you prepares you for Him to work THROUGH you. This transformation is 100% the work of God and 100% your yieldedness to it. The true mystery is living FROM Him instead of the exhaustion of living FOR Him. Do you know that exhausting treadmill of trying harder?

Amidst my heavy piano-weighted season, absolute exasperation and fatigue led me to a beautiful surrender and a new freedom in Christ. I decided to let go of living from my capabilities, behaviors, environment, or even my limiting beliefs. The dear Lord wants our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole soul so much that He is willing to rip everything away until there is nothing left but a sweet emptiness that demands that we lay at rest in His arms, finally FREE. 

This is our dying to live. This is where our weakness yields way to His strength within. This is where we actually begin to live FROM Him within instead of living FOR Him without. 

You want this freedom. Don’t wait until you have the weight of a piano on your shoulders to live from this freedom. Let Him carry the piano. Die to live. 

Ponder:

What would life be like if we cast all our burdens on Him and let His Holy Spirit carry us through? Do you have the weight of a piano on your shoulders? Give Him your burdens. Live FROM His strength and His call, not on the performance treadmill.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, I am exhausted by trying to spin all of the plates of performance. Save me from myself. I die to myself living FOR You and ask that You fill me “to overflowing” so that I can live FROM Your strength and purposes.

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PLAN END NOTE: Roxanne's passion is to speak life-giving truths into the hearts of others. She loves to speak at retreats and conventions. She hosts her own DEEPER Intensive and RISE UP coaching workshops and works with clients nationwide as a personal life coach. You can contact her, order her new book and get more information at RoxanneParks.com. She would be honored to connect with you.