I've just been thinking recently about how much easier it is for me to hang out with God these days.... The reasons are endless, but here are a few that have made a huge difference:
1. Coming to understand the fact that I don't *have* to do anything for God! Christ made me righteous (as in "having right standing in God's eyes") and loved, and I can do absolutely nothing to get more loved or more righteous on my own. This is 100% freeing because I now have no authorization to judge other people as better or worse than me, and I can't be self-sufficient by doing all sorts of amazing things. It makes my mind a lot less critical and a lot more dependent on God. It's glorious! I don't have to be perfect nor do I have to feel guilty for my inherent imperfection! So it makes me much less scared of God and a lot more attracted to Him because I know He loves me unconditionally.
2. I've decided that He knows what He's talking about and that I want to believe what He says, because I'm a freaking basket case if I don't believe Him. So I gravitate toward what He might have to tell me.
3. I've figured out that life is just plain NOT exciting if I don't have a good relationship going on with God and my Lord Jesus. It really isn't. It's not just boring - it's drudgery to the extreme. I become really pathetic, weak and unhappy without that constant (Oh how I wish it was actually constant) connection.
So there you go. I absolutely have to have God. He's like crack! Except I wouldn't know because I've never tried crack and God is not addicting in a debilitating way, but an empowering way - He's unbelievably, wholesomely nourishing to ones bones.
I can tell that this year will be so much better than last!
