thankful for grace.

I heard a message from 2 Chronicles 33:1-20 this week.

  It was about Manasseh, who was twelve years old when he became king. 

He reigned for fifty-five years, and he was all kinds of evil.

Before the message even started, 

we were all reminded how easy it would be to totally judge Manasseh.

The pastor encouraged all of us to get in touch with our inner dirtbag.

The truth is...we're all capable of "all kinds of evil."

Manassah

...erected altars to the Baals.

...made Asherah poles. 

...worshipped the goddess, Artemis.

just to name a few.

This is where it got personal.
I was trying to get in touch with my inner dirtbag, but honestly, Manassah was still winning.
{I was kind of feeling okay about myself compared to him}
In other words, I was judging him.

About that time, the pastor informed us that...
Baal was the god of success.
Asherah was the goddess of sex.
And, Artemis was the goddess of youth.

I was officially in touch with my inner dirtbag.
We're all capable of "all kinds of evils."
I've become imprisoned to every one of those at some point or another in my life.

2 Chronicles 33:10
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

2 Chronicles 33:11

So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 33:12

In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God 

and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.

2 Chronicles 33:13

And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; 

so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.

Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

We were asked a series of questions

in order to try to apply the truths spilled out in these scriptures to our own lives.

The two questions that pierced me were:

What are the idols that you've built up in your life?

Why do you struggle with God's grace?

I'm amazed at how quickly something can become an idol in my heart.

It's easy for me to get value, worth, security from just about anything.

sounds like idol worship, huh?

I struggle with God's grace because somewhere along the way I was taught that 

my behavior was directly related to my right standing with God.

Except, this isn't true.

Grace is unmerited favor.
There is nothing I can do to deserve it.
It's just given.
It doesn't have anything to do with me or my behavior.
It has everything to do with God alone and his goodness.
I don't know about you, but this lifts a heavy burden off of this natural performer's heart.

In spite of my misgivings....all He ever gives me is grace.
And, I'm so, so, so thankful for it even if I'm still trying to understand it more fully.

all photos found: Martha Stewart, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens

I hope this space is refreshing to you.
I hope you leave feeling inspired and encouraged.