This year for Lent, I decided to change things up a little bit. Instead of giving something up, I decided to give something instead. If you read this post here, you know that I had an amazing experience with Beth Moore’s live bible study this year. During one of her lessons, she talked about discipline. She said as eloquently as ever, “There’s a difference between being created by God and being invaded by God.” That just sounded all kinds of wonderful to me. But she also said it takes discipline, and I immediately knew that discipline was something I definitely was lacking. Some of my down falls include that I tend to be a procrastinator, a weakling with food, and a lazy-bone in the chores department (because laundry, y’all. Laundry.). I wanted to be more focused on Him during Lent, and a great way to do that is to pray for discipline.
So the first part of Lent, I did a lot of praying. My praying is a constant conversation with God. I talk to Him all day, erryday. Sometimes I think He’s like, “You again?” But that’s okay. I know He loves me anyway. But because I was focused on praying for discipline, it was a little more to-the-point. It went something like this: “Dear Lord, please give me discipline to be ALL the woman you want me to be. Please give me discipline to be your instrument in all that I do. Energize me. Be active in me. I cannot do it all by myself.” Because sometimes we just have to stop the noise and let Him invade our life.
With focus and dedication to praying the same prayer over and over, He showed up. Here are some things that happened this Lent season that can only be explained by His Grace:
1) This blog! Seven Graces was finally born and I am so excited to spread goodness, y’all.
2) Mid-Lenten season, I decided to try the Paleo diet. MJ started this back in September, and he has done great with it, losing and keeping off 15 pounds. I always shunned that diet, because I am a bread person. But I decided to try it because things were just getting a little out of control with the scale, and since I had been praying for discipline, I decided to give it a go. I’ve done really well with it so far. And surprisingly, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had thought. During the last three weeks, I have lost 8 pounds and counting. I’ll take it!
3) I started using my Erin Condren planner (which is my all-time favorite by the way) and have commenced the color-coding again. I now write down my blogging time, Charlotte’s activities, our meals, and my chores. And things are getting done, people. Hallelujah!
One of the best things about not giving something up this year and giving something instead is that I’m staying excited about what I’ve started. I don’t plan on stopping just because Lent is over. I’ve grown in my faith, and I’m going to press on. It’s amazing what you can do with Christ as your center.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).
As we head into this Easter weekend, I can’t help but reflect on God’s gift of His only Son and I am so thankful for all of y’all who have decided to take this journey with me here at Seven Graces. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).
Happy Easter, everyone! May it be blessed!
