God who indwells

The beauty in simplicity
Is the beauty of Your life in me
Nothing else, You're all I need
Stepping only as You lead
Resting, waiting, worry gone
Always, ever, depending on
The grace You give
In me You live
The beauty in simplicity
Is the beauty of Your life in me

So I've been thinking a lot this week about direction - but God's been teaching me about something completely different. It's so basic, really. I've known it all my life. Sometimes, though, I think I forget. What is so important that God won't talk to me about anything else?
Just this: "Apart from Me you can do nothing." Nothing. Not speak, not walk, not normal routine things; not school, not friendship, not anything. Now, I love going on mission trips. I think I'm a little addicted. It's so easy to recognize that you need God's grace - and for that reason it's easier to walk in it. But God doesn't view us as suddenly in need of grace when we step onto the mission field or into a worship service or our prayer closet or wherever we feel our need for grace - He sees us as we are, constantly in need of grace. You don't need grace any more on the mission field than you do walking to class. I forget that. It seems ridiculous to my mind that I would need someone's help to get ready for class or go to sleep at night - but that's the honest truth.

"Apart from Me you can do nothing."

I wonder what it would look like if I were to truly rely on God's grace in a conscious, intentional way every moment of every day. How would that change my behavior? How would it change my priorities? How would it change my conversations? I don't know. I kind of want to find out, though. It might take a while, but I think it just might be awesome to discover.

Lord, it's not about my strength in seeking You, but Your grace in me responding to Your greatness. I can't even love You on my own; we love because You first loved us. Teach me to walk, not in my own strength, but in Your rest, the rest that comes from absolute obedience.

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

John 15:5-6