I'm continually amazed by God's ability to use our failures as a display of His glory.
I have messed up a lot. When I look at my heart and the things that I feel, I am disgusted at how selfish I am. I desire to elevate myself above everyone else and to pursue the things that I want, and I am ashamed of these feelings.
I have hurt others in ways that I wholeheartedly regret. I have said things I wish I could take back. I have felt things that I wouldn't want to anyone to know.
Plain and simply, I am a sinner. I am broken.
I am not proud that I have sinned, but I am proud to say that my God is one of amazing grace and infinite love. He uses sinners like me to showcase His redemptive power.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
I am a sinner. I am broken. But I am continually reminding myself that God has forgiven me.
And despite my flaws, He is using me to bring about His Kingdom. To think that God uses a sinner like me to spread His love, shows me just how praiseworthy He is and just how much power He has.
My sin, in all its ugliness, has helped me open my eyes to just how beautiful forgiveness is.
My prayer is that my heart will be characterized by the same forgiveness I am shown by God. And that this will not stand as an excuse to keep sinning but to invite God to keep changing my heart.
