Freedom

Since I was about four or five years old, I have been in the church. I was twelve when I learned and memorized the Ten Commandments. Combine this knowledge with my already goody girl nature and I just knew I was bound for heaven! I mean, all I had to do was follow the rules, right?

Ask anyone from my high school, and they would tell you that I loved rules. Just tell me what I could and couldn't do and I felt at ease because I had clear guidelines. This was great in the fact that I hardly ever got into trouble growing up, but it also did a lot of damage in that I became arrogant and cold hearted in my walk with God. Throughout high school and the beginning of college  I thought I was fine because I followed the rules: I didn't curse. I didn't have sex. I didn't steal. I went to church every Sunday.

But my heart was so far from God! The only time I spent with Him was when I was crying out for help or a blessing. My outward appearance was clean as a whistle, but my heart was filthy! I cursed people out in my head. I lusted after every cute guy I saw. I used up more printer paper and ink than I should have at my internship. I daydreamed about my boyfriend during sermons.

But thank God He opened my eyes and changed my heart! I now recognize that my outward deeds mean nothing if my heart is a mess. And that's one of the reasons why my desire is to really check my heart in all the things I do.

Last night I decided to study the book of Galatians for the next 30 days or so. The theme of this book is that justification is by faith and not the Law, and that we have freedom in Christ. This freedom means to serve others and Christ freely. This freedom means to be free from the chains of sin and death. This freedom means life!  I want to really take the time to study and absorb what Paul wrote in this book. I'm not going to lie: sometimes I still see my salvation as a reward for my good deeds and adherence to the Law. But then there are days when God has  me read through Leviticus and Numbers, and I see just how short I fall of His standard, and I just thank God for His amazing gift of having Jesus die on the cross for our sins! I am being honest when I say that this faith versus work thing is a true tug of war in my heart! Anyone else right there with me? So my desire for the next 30 days is to slowly let God reveal his truth and scrub away at my heart as I journey through Galatians. I have only made it through the tenth verse of the first chapter so far and I have already been blessed tremendously! He is so faithful!

I set out to do this slowly and in my own time, but I do want to extend the invitation to join me for those who are interested and want some accountability. Just let me know by commenting below, or on my Instagram account, or through my email at tgregor09@gmail.com and I'll send you the loose template that I am following! I pray it blesses you as it is already blessing me!