Well friends, it’s a new year! Another chance to reinvent ourselves, try new things, make commitments that we really intend to keep. In junior high and high school, I used to make a list of resolutions before each school year. They would always look something like this:
1. Curl your hair everyday
2. Be on time
3. Don’t be so awkward and shy
4. Dress cuter
The only trouble is that I could write them out today and they’d still apply. Late everywhere, not that cool and not that fashionable, a hopeless procrastinator, painfully slow at getting things done, a perfectionist to a fault: you know, human.
As the years have gone by and countless lists of resolutions have remained unconquered, I’ve started to wonder if maybe God made me this way? Maybe He had a perfect plan for all those imperfections? Maybe they would serve to unlock a creativity and an introspection and a compassion in me? Maybe they would reveal an overwhelming need for Grace, for a Savior, for Someone who loves me just as I am, who could wade through my mess to love me and protect me and know me?
I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the phrase “don’t let perfection be the enemy”, because it’s the attitude I most desire to adopt, but then again it describes me most precisely: if I can’t accomplish something to my own standard of perceived perfection, I throw in the towel.
In my adult years, my resolutions have looked something like this:
1. Read through the whole Bible in one year
2. Have my quiet time with the Lord every morning, before the kids wake up and the day’s demands begin to nag at me
3. Work out consistently
Nothing wrong with those, they’re all noble goals. Until I skip one day of reading and give up altogether unless I can catch up. Then I oversleep and resign myself to the fact that I’ll never be able to know Him the way I desire to. And,instead of toning up with my new workout regimen, I gain ten pounds and decide I’ll never fit into those pre-baby jeans and I’ll never feel good about myself.
The Truth is, those are all lies, straight from the enemy, designed to keep me in bondage to my perfection and failure and perceived lack of progress. And God rebukes all of them:
He gently whispers that I’m beautiful. (Psalm 45:11)
He reminds me that I’m running a marathon, not a sprint. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
He promises that all of this is just part of the story He’s writing for me. (Philippians 1:6)
He knows that I’m human and He knows better than anyone else the implications of my humanity. After all, He gave His Son to redeem me. (John 3:16)
Do I cheapen Christ’s sacrifice by deciding that I need to secure my own redemption through some arbitrary accomplishment or sacrifice? Because I will never measure up, does that make me a hopeless cause?
He has always known I’d never measure up. That’s why He died: to bridge the gap between His holiness and my every flaw. He knows all of it, and He covers it completely. His blood gives me the freedom to grow under grace, not out of obligation or self-disdain.
In 2013, let’s live in that. Let’s live in the space where Grace covers and joy overflows. The space where a God who knows us intimately still loves us lavishly. Enough to come into our mess, pick up the pieces, and redeem them for His glory. Let’s abide there.
Can you just imagine the beautiful change and growth that would spring forth from a resolution like that? That’s where I’ll be this year: Ever aware of my brokenness, ever in awe of His sufficiency.
© 2013 – 2012, Aly Allen. All rights reserved. Love it? Print, email, pin, tweet or share but please don’t use my work without permission. {Copyright Fancy Little Things. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this article or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.}
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Such a great post!
I think if I would give myself even a PORTION of the grace that God gives me, I would be MUCH better off!
Julie Sancken recently posted..What I Wore Wednesday
Julie- i’m the exact same way! and i honestly struggle with not giving myself grace over the fact that i don’t give myself enough grace… i mean, seriously? we’d be happier and free-er, wouldn’t we?
Aly Allen recently posted..new year’s resolutions
absolutely love this. it’s amazing how our resolutions change once we know who is in charge. my word for 2012 was Grace and I think I’m keeping it for 2013. without His grace I’d be nothing. and without His grace I’d never be ok with who I am.
blessed by this post Aly!! xo
Kristin recently posted..it’s the new year
yes, it’s so true! being able to acknowledge (out loud) the fact that i’m absolutely nothing apart from Him has been a huge (and recent) step for me. i would never be okay with myself either, i totally agree!
thanks kristin
xo
Aly Allen recently posted..new year’s resolutions
I really love this Aly. I am trying SO hard to live in that grace every day. I have been praying about this a lot lately, concerning my kids. I am often so tied up in parenting PERFECTLY, but what then, am I only sending a message that perfection is the goal? No, grace in our mess is what truth is. We’ll be a family that makes mistakes and imparts grace. We’ll apologize and forgive and keep on walking together. That’s life. Thank you for this reminder.
Lindsy @ Space for Joy recently posted..keep walking. keep seeking.
oh my goodness, Lindsy, i’m right there with the parenting thing. i literally just finished writing about this, after a very convicting interaction with my three-year old. you’re exactly right- grace in our mess is EXACTLY what they need!
Aly Allen recently posted..new year’s resolutions
Thanks for sharing, Aly! My personality and yours sound very similar! I’ve given up making resolutions long ago. Now I try to make adjustments in myself (with God’s help, of course) as I live life. Totally embracing God’s grace this year! Happy New Year to you!
Hugs!
Kristen Hamilton recently posted..Happy New Year!!!
Kristen, i’m sure we are very similar! i just can’t commit myself to a list of arbitrary improvements before the year even starts. i’m confident that God reveals exactly what He wants to see changing in me as i spend time with Him. i don’t need to add guilt into the mix!
thanks for your comment, and happy new year to you!
Aly Allen recently posted..new year’s resolutions
we are so similar!!!
but by the grace of God we can conquer this and enjoy the grace that He so freely bestows!
LOVE this SO much!
xoxo
yes, ENJOY the Grace. that’s all i want to do! i can just imagine how it pains Him to watch us add unnecessary things to our lives, as if His Grace was not enough in the first place. so glad you could relate, Mary!
Aly Allen recently posted..new year’s resolutions
I’ll join you this year in abiding in the beautiful phrase…”"Ever aware of my brokenness, ever in awe of His sufficiency”. I’m relunctant to set any goals for this year. As baby #5 arrives in March, when I can already get so overwhelmed with the demands of parenting and life in general, all I can think is “survive”, but I know God has more for me this year. And each overwhelming situations, each day when I reach the end of myself….He will be there. Sufficient for me.
danielle, i would be thinking the same thing- just survive. but you’re so right, He will be right there at the end of yourself. and i often find that’s the best place to be anyway. less of me and more of Him!
Aly Allen recently posted..tips and tricks for healthy eating
This —> Do I cheapen Christ’s sacrifice by deciding that I need to secure my own redemption through some arbitrary accomplishment or sacrifice?
WOW.
Thank you.
Rae recently posted..and God said, let there be kites.
rae, that speaks to me fresh when you single it out there. yes, am i doing that? i don’t want to, and i’ve tasted the freedom that comes from just allowing Him to be sufficient. i want it all the time.
Aly Allen recently posted..tips and tricks for healthy eating
“In 2013, let’s live in that. Let’s live in the space where Grace covers and joy overflows. The space where a God who knows us intimately still loves us lavishly. Enough to come into our mess, pick up the pieces, and redeem them for His glory. Let’s abide there.”
All I can say is…word sister…word.
And awesome post!
Kimberly recently posted..The Second Coffee Date
kimberly, thank you! let’s do it, let’s live in that space this year : )
Aly Allen recently posted..tips and tricks for healthy eating
Thank you so much for sharing. God knew exactly what I needed to hear today! Thanks for letting Him speak through you.