photo and graphic: Martha G. Brady
I often have doubts that come to mind, but less as time goes by.
- Who are you to think GOD cares for you?
- Why should He let you into heaven? You don’t deserve it.
- Will you ever grow in your faith? You are such a loser!
I have come to recognize these thoughts as lies from Satan. At one time, I thought I was being humble or realistic. While it is true that I don’t deserve heaven on my own merit, and that on my own, I will never grow in my faith and trust in Christ, there are other things at play.
There are some amazing promises made in Scripture! Jesus has made some stunning commitments to me as His child. To start with, He saved me when I didn’t deserve it. stop
But God, being rich in mercy,
because of the great love with which he loved us,
even when we were dead in our trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
and raised us up with him
and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…
Ephesians 2:4-6
Then, His commitment is to keep me and finish the work He started in me to completion!
And I am sure of this,
that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6His commitment is to keep me and finish the work He started in me to completion! Share on X
I am not expecting too much when I expect Him to do that work both in me and in those who are new believers that He has promised. I can go before the throne of grace and ask GOD to complete the work He has started in me…or any other believers I am encouraging.
I am not expecting too much when I expect Him to do that work in me and in new believers that He has promised. Share on XGOD promises to be faithful to His promises. What better promise can we take hold of? He finishes the work He starts. Hallelujah! What great expectations!
first of all I love love love your blog name, gritty grace. boy isn’t that true? I have wrote something similar to this lately. Those thoughts from satan are some of the same thoughts I struggle with. But I have learned that I am chosen, sanctified, taught, and loved by Him. Those should be my only expectations of God because of only who he is in me.
thanks kristina:) glad you stopped by. we need to fight the lies that come to mind with the truth of GOD’s Word. it helps a lot:) blessings as you grow in grace.
Great thoughts Martha! Praise Him that He WILL complete the work in us! That is such an incredible thought isn’t it? Not what I was expecting when I saw the title. But I may have to bounce off of you and write what I was thinking at homeskool mom for the prompt…hmmm.
oh yeah! i always love it when people read a title and don’t find what they are expecting christy:) (unless it is awful!) yes, it is a very encouraging thought…especially on days when i look at my “performance” and am disheartened.
here is the link to christy’s post:http://homeskoolmom.com/2016/05/20/expecting-too-much-of-god/
I agree, it’s easy to lower our expectations but we should expect God to be faithful to his promises and to complete the work he has begun.
thanks for stopping by carly:) we have a big GOD who is able to keep us to the end! what great news!
I loved the way you developed this, Martha. If we tone down our expectations, we’re just listening to the enemy.
The best is coming.
#3 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-dying-spouse-157-dont-expect-that.html
you are so right andrew:)
Yes! I’m so thankful our God is a God of promises! I want him to complete me too.
He’s doing it Tara. comforting thought isn’t it?