A Work In Progress!

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Am I confident?

For you, ABSOLUTELY! Because… It is God who is at work in you! 

Like Paul, I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all (in Texas we spell that y’all), in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5)

Being raised by a perfectionist who wouldn’t let herself or anyone else think she or we were “good enough”, I have trouble in the confidence department. Sometimes I find it hard to know that God doesn’t view me the same way as my mother used to.

So many imperfections! Am I salvageable as His work? Will He complete His work (to perfection) or will He throw me into His “projects left undone” box. Projects that were wonderful in the idea stage, but turned out to MORE FRUSTRATING (or boring) than their ideal is worth sweating over.

I have a project box like that. I don’t throw the project (me?) away. The not so mangled, untangled, material might be of use in another project, or, there might come a day, when I am finally able to mold and manipulate this one into SOMETHING useful or decorative.

When Satan wants to harass me, He whispers that God has a box just like it. Using the easiest arrows given to him to discourage and destroy what is mostly this little lump of clay, Satan forms His weapon of choice – ME!

I know what I’d do if he were threatening and harassing you, but what SHOULD I do when his arrows hit my brain?

The SAME THING I would do with you – speaking to one another (my brain, my soul and my spirit) in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with my heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19) I NEED TO… put on the armor of God!

In the times the enemy entices me into his wilderness, I need to gird my loins with truth… My Designer – God the Father, who does not see me as just a hobby but as His child for eternity (Psalm 139). I need to gird my loins with truth…  My Savior and Design Engineer – Jesus, who is building me with Him as the Cornerstone. I need to gird my loins with truth… the Artist – the Holy Spirit, who is the voice always saying, “This is the Way was in it” (Isaiah 30:21)

I need to put on the breastplate of righteousness… not my own but that of Christ, My Lord!

I need to shod my feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace… the good news of great joy – Emmanuel – God with us!

I MUST take up the shield of faith with which I will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one… not just my belief but my whole trust and reliable commitment to depend on and live for the One and Only God of Love!

And I MUST take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… then I can safely enter our war with the enemy, boldly proclaiming as Jesus did in EVERY temptation (Matthew 4:4-11), – God is my Banner – Exodus 17:15 – and only then do I enter this wilderness, which is God’s workroom not His showroom.

As I march forward, one step at a time, I DO DECLARE over and over and over (don’t stop! NEVER stop, Mary!) again, “JESUS IS ENOUGH!”

Do I always “get it”?

Nope!

But, whether I turn to the right or to the left, I hear the voice saying, “You are My work in progress!”

And I know for this moment… He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

No mom, I’m not perfect yet. But… IT IS (from beginning to end)God who is at work in me, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

When He is done with me… I WILL BE perfect!

He declares it so! “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

He promises it so! “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11 

He make it so! “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 

I am indeed, His Work In Progress!

You are indeed, His Work In Progress!

Let us send the devil back his flaming arrows like Jesus did… Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Matthew 4:10

Guess what happened… Encouragement happened! Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Matthew 4:11 

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.