Striving, striving...

Striving: rooted in sin, trying in my own strength to achieve goals that were not implanted in my heart by God, leads to frustration, failure and broken-heartedness. (My understanding of this word).

I've been praying about this word today. I realize that Jesus came to set us free from this kind of living. Why do I keep choosing to strive when I've been given a way out? Oh, many reasons, but perhaps the main one can be summed up in the words of the hymn "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing":

Prone to wander,

Lord I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love 

Our human, sinful hearts long for identity and acceptance. We "wander" because we forget the freeing truth of the Gospel- we have been given this amazing gift, but we tend to forget the power and freedom that this Gift offers. I'm reminded in this Christmas season that there is no amount of striving that will ever bring me peace. So, as I wake up each day and fight my desire to wander and achieve some important status, I pray that this will be my attitude:

Here's my heart, Lord

Take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

"Be still and know that I am God" 

or

"Cease striving as know that I am God"

Ps. 46:10 (NIV and MSG)