Undone

Have you ever experienced a time in which you were begging God for answers in a certain situation, only for Him to give you answers for something else?  I know this doesn't make sense.  It didn't make sense to me, either.  Sunday, as we were driving to church, things were rowdy in the car {Can I get an AMEN?  Certainly we aren't the only ones.} I was trying to listen to the radio, and one of my new favorite songs came on - Come to the Table by Sidewalk Prophets.  I thought about how many really good songs are currently on Christian radio, and my heart was immediately drawn to my favorite song of all time- I Got Saved by Selah.  This is one of their new ones that Rob and I have worn out on iTunes.  We had been working on it to sing in church, so we have spent a lot of time listening and processing the lyrics of this song.  The chorus goes like this:

"I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus.  I'm undone by the goodness of the Lord.  I'm restored and made right, He got a hold of my life.  I've got Jesus, how could I want more?" 

Boy, did my heart get an attitude check!  Whew!  It wasn't the direction I was looking for, but it was the direction I needed.  I was thinking about how often we feel defeated; how many times things do not turn out like we hoped or prayed.  My heart hurts for the division in our country, among friends, and among Christians.  My heart is weary from trying to seek God's will for my life with little to no direction.  It seems like everything we try to do doesn't work out like we think it should.  Then these words pierced my heart like a flaming arrow...  "I'm undone by the mercy of Jesus."  Then I got this answer...I'm always defeated because I am so focused on what God is NOT doing in my life, that I have forgotten all He HAS done in my life.  He went to the cross and paid my penalty for my wrongdoings.  He loved me so much that He gave his life for me.  That is more than enough.  "I've got Jesus, how could I want more?"  But we always want more.  We want to be more important, more significant, more successful, more happy, more at peace, more right, more wealthy, more loved, and on and on.  I know Christ has done so much for me in my life.  I even wrote a book about it.  But how quickly we forget when things don't go our way.  I had become an entitled brat. I felt like I was getting the short end of the stick.  I have been more faithful in my Bible study, prayer time, giving of my time to mission projects, and loving people.  Why wouldn't God just give us the direction we were supposed to go?   The very thing that drives me the most crazy, became the thing that was in the way of what God wants to do in my life....ENTITLEMENT. As my heart was just in pieces for the ungratefulness I had shown my Savior, we pulled in the parking lot at church.  I silently prayed that God would make me "undone" by his mercy and goodness; that my eyes would stay focused on what He did at the cross.  If he never did another thing for me, He has given far more than I deserve.

Be careful what you pray for.  Let me tell you what...when church started, I became undone.  The praise band sang a song about God's faithfulness.  It said "your promise still stands.  This is my confidence, I'm still in your hands."  God has NEVER let me down.  Not even in my darkest days.  Then came the final nail in the coffin of my entitled heart.  The preacher began his sermon titled "How to go from worried to happy." He gave so many wonderful points, but the  one that hit me the hardest was "putting an end to entitlement and cultivate contentment in Jesus Christ."  WHAT?!?!  The Lord was just dealing with me on this in the car, and now the preacher is telling me the same thing?  I get it, Lord.  I get it loud and clear. Nobody is responsible for my happiness.  God isn't even responsible for my happiness.  It is my choice, my responsibility to find my joy in Jesus Christ.  My prayer for this week is that I continue to look to Jesus.  The one who knows me best, has the best in store for me, has shown me the greatest mercy and goodness known to man.  I pray that I put off the feelings of being a victim, and cling to His promise that we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37}.  If you are feeling defeated, take some time to reflect on all God has done for you.  An attitude of gratitude goes a long way.  If you just can't think of anything He's done for you, let me help you out. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

I love these words from Paul, and I pray they will bring you some encouragement as well.  May we all be UNDONE by the mercy of Jesus.

Philippians 4:1-13

1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

² I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
³ And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.