DIY Spiritual Growth
By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
I am not a do-it-yourself kind of person and I guess that means I am someone who wants it done for me. I’ll watch and learn but I am not the read-the-directions-with-screw-driver-in-hand kind of woman. Nor do I get scissor happy with my hair. Some assembly required? No thanks! But Cassandra Tiersma (Mornings with Jesus) is! In this message you’ll find her response to a spiritual do-it-yourself plan that bottomed out.
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I watch tons of DO-IT-YOURSELF videos. How to cut my own hair, how to upcycle thrifted clothing, how to mend and darn, how to alter clothes that don’t fit, how to exercise while sitting on a chair and so on. I love learning how to do things to make my life better.
I used to think I could DIY my spiritual life with various spiritual self-help methods. I thought I could make my life better by reading the right books, praying particular prayers, repeating positive affirmations. My DIY method of attaining spiritual peace was an endless to-do list that didn’t make my life better.
When Jesus became my personal Lord and Savior, my never-ending spiritual DIY quest ceased. With Jesus, I finally experienced and understood what the Bible calls “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7, ESV). All my desire to DIY my spiritual life was gone. Jesus made me whole and complete. He made my life better.
Now my DIY interests are of a more mundane nature. I still want to know how to turn my skinny jeans into flare-legged pants, but I’m no longer obsessed with trying to DIY my own salvation. Jesus is in charge of that. What could be better than that?
FAITH STEP: Jot down a short to-do list of three things you’re planning to do. Add one more item to your list: Save Myself. Cross that out and write Ephesians 2:8 in the first person: By grace I have been saved. And this is not by my own doing; it is a gift of God.
Gracious and loving Father, thank You for opening our eyes in wonder. Help us to see the world as You do and to build a firmer foundation following Your examples. AMEN.