The Secret
The secret is this: you’ve got to be wholehearted.
The dirty little secret is this: being wholehearted requires your whole heart…and it is the hardest thing to give.
The push-pull of our hearts desires make it very difficult to be wholehearted to something eternal. I want to be wholehearted, but my sin-flesh-heart leaves holes and gaps where selfish ambition has eaten through.
Life is one big push-pull and sometimes I feel like I’m the Monkey in the middle.
Will I ever say, “I’ve got this!”?
Do I have this life or does it have me?
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24
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Recommended: Seasons of a Mother’s Heart
Related: The World is Begging You To Show Up
Photo Credit: So Tell Me Now…
That post from Emily at Chatting with the Sky was so for me this morning! :) And actually, I also thought of Season's of a Mother's Heart as I was going through the junk this morning.
I texted my husband asking him to pray for me because I am just so tired and done. I feel like I'm turning my wheels and getting nowhere. I love my kids dearly, but I feel like nothing I say or do ever gets through. I can only lead them so far—God has to do the rest. I can't change their hearts for them. I can only lead them to the door (and this is SO frustrating).
The fighting, bickering, complaining, screaming, demanding attitudes. This mama heart is so tired today. :(
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (English Standard Version)
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
After I read Sarah Mae's post today, God brought to my head the verse in Zechariah: "Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT", says the Lord.
I can try with all my might, but I will not do it. I can fight with all my will power but it still won't happen. Only by GOD'S SPIRIT can HE accomplish what HE wants in me.
I then went back and viewed Sarah Mae's video as a reminder & it really helped. HE is the potter. I am the clay. Not the other way around. Thank you for this verse, Sarah!
Video: http://www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com/home/2010/10/…
I tell my kiddos that EVERY decision is one for God and the Truth or for our sinful nature and the enemy. It is a constant battle!! And truly I believe that if your doing it right you will probably feel somewhat like your the rope in a tug-of-war your whole life. Just because the flesh is weak. Its when you don't have any conflict with your heart that usually you get in trouble, at least that's true for me.
Boy do I understand where you are coming from! Just yesterday I was feeling discouraged because I just wanted bedtime to get here..and then I was convicted that I always look so forward to my kids nap times and bedtimes, and I don't want to look back on this time and realize I didn't enjoy this season of life. I have to fight every day to be content with where I'm at, and fight to be fully present in my children's lives.