Approval

This really helped me today...

For so long I've considered my identity as a sinner, and the feeling of guilt associated with this identity has driven me to try and achieve and succeed in order to gain approval from God.

I know I'm not alone....

So many Christians, feel they have to gain approval from God. 

How does this work with the knowledge, that we can't do any more to make God love us more?

Today, I was listening to a sermon and this has communicated so succinctly what I have been dwelling on in my mind for some time...

We don't live for God's approval
We live from God's approval

I've been living for God's approval, yet God already approves.
This thought alongside this tremendous scripture has been a refreshing truth in my day! 

Do not fear, Zion do not let your hands hang limp.
¹⁷ The Lord your God is with you  the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing

Genesis

The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:2

I started reading Genesis again today and this amazing verse stuck out to me!
Even in the design stages of this world, when things were formless, void and dark God's Spirit was moving.

Nothing in our lives can be more formless, void or dark than that moment and so over all our situations, weakness, darkness God's Spirit moves.

I like the wording of the NASB translation. The adjectives describing the state of the God's outlook were over the surface of the deep. Yet the Spirit of God was also moving over that surface.

If this world and our lives are feeling desolate, empty and lost at the moment then we should find solace in the truth that the Holy Spirit of God moves and has the power to convict, challenge, comfort and change