Glory Strength

I don’t know about you, but I’m an “achiever” type. I start each day with a little to-do list and end it with satisfaction that I beat the day or frustrated that there’s still more to do. I gain great pride and accomplishment in being able to tackle my daily lists. Now throw in being a graphic designer who gladly uses my gifts to help build the church. What a cool advantage to be a get-it-done creative girl, right?! Yes, and unfortunately no. 

Using the gift of design that God has given me is one of my greatest challenges. I constantly fall into the trap of allowing my gifts to replace my time with God and in some cases even my love for His church. While God has given each of us these great gifts that are to be used to help build the church and those around us, why do we so often allow our gifts to take over our love for Him? Why is it so easy to swap out what we do for God with our love for God?

There’s so many possible answers to this question, and you may have your own insight, but my consistent hurdle: independence (aka “I’ll just get it done”).

A few months ago Thrive’s creative director shared this verse with our team and it has rocked my perspective on “I’ll get it done” ever since. It’s Colossians 1:10-12 (MSG) and it reads, 

"We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."

Glory strength.

I don’t have to “get it done” on my own. In fact, God doesn’t want us to get it done on our own. When we plug into the source of our inspiration and gifts, we can get up and “take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.” I don’t have to solely rely on my strong, independent side to do everything and please everyone – what freedom! 

We have glory strength. Every day. For every task. For every season. And when we operate in glory strength, God gives us the opportunity to “take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."

From glory to glory,
Lauren