I sit here at my laptop in Champaign, IL waiting for Monday to approach when classes to begin. Since leaving Colorado on August 9th, I have had about two weeks to reflect on my summer. It was amazing.
God did so much in my heart this summer. He showed me that he does not only want to be my Lord, and I His servant, but He wants to be my Father and He wants me to love Him and get to know Him as His daughter. My relationship with God has changed drastically to one of servanthood, to one of childhood.
My Father has stretched my faith this summer, teaching me to ask for things of Him, and He has given them to me. Looking back at this summer I can see that He has answered every prayer I have cried out to Him.
I have experienced grace for the first time in my life. All my life I have been pretty straight-laced, I have never really done anything morally wrong and never felt grace. From that I have been very self-righteous and felt that I deserved grace. When God showed me that this summer I asked Him to show me grace, and to let me experience grace. He sure did let me experience grace this summer. I have never felt so broken in my life, yet so completely redeemed.
God has shown me the true hidden power of the Spirit, and what it really means to live by the Spirit. We as believers are not supposed to simply follow the rules and try and be righteous. We will fail, for there is no one who is righteous. As believers we are to live by the Spirit. How the heck do you live by the Spirit? It's nothing you can really DO, it's more of praying for the Spirit to live through you and to dwell in your heart.
I have come to a point in my relationship with the Father that is sooo deep and intimate. I would not trade anything for it. He is stretching my faith, refining my heart, and drawing near to me. I cannot wait to see what He reveals next in my heart.
