I’ve installed a program called Grammarly on my computer, which helps me communicate with impact and get my message across. Grammarly aims to help me present my best self every time I write and corrects any errors I make.
As I type Grammarly checks what I am writing, and messages pop up on the side of my screen letting me know I have a sentence that is too long, unclear or passive speech. When I get it right, the program says things like, “no issues found,” everything looks good” and “give yourself a pat on the back.’ However, when I struggle to make myself clear or hesitant in my speech, Grammarly asks me to look at the sentence again and to rephrase what I am saying because my writing is unclear or difficult to understand. The program then gives me some ideas to better phrase what I want to share and applauds me with a nice comment when I correct it.
Grammarly reminds me of how Jesus works in us. When you follow Him and ask Him to be part of your life, He helps you to be your best self every day, walking alongside you, guiding and directing your steps.
Some days I have a great day, and Grammarly hardly needs to correct and guide my writing. Yet other days I am unclear, messy and require a lot of assistance, which Grammarly is happy to give. Jesus works the same way, as some days we are patient, kind, self-controlled, and doing fantastic, and then other days we don’t like ourselves or our behaviour very much at all.
Line by line, precept by precept and step by step, Jesus encourages and empowers us to be our best self, lets us know where we could improve something and when we get stuck or off course shows us a better way to do things. He doesn’t yell or shout, but is the one cheering us on, letting us know we are “doing a great job, and telling us, “well done, that’s quite an improvement”.
God knows the plan and purpose of heaven over your life, and his heart is never to condemn or chastise you. If He disciplines and corrects you, it is as a loving Father who disciplines His child so that you won’t trip up or miss out on all He has planned for you. He knows the perfect, whole and healed version of you and promises that as you walk with Him, He will “perfect all that concerns you”, and complete the good work that He began in you.” (Psalm 138:8; Philippians 1:6)
Today I encourage you to keep writing your story, running your race and chasing your dreams. But also know that you don’t have to make any of this journey alone. You have a personal guide, counsellor, burden bearer, mentor and one who believes in you far more than you believe in yourself. Invite and trust Him to be there for you, and to light the path ahead for your feet. He’ll make sure you run your race well, fulfill your destiny and win the prize.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 ESV)
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14: 26)
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13)
Prayer: Lord, help me listen to your voice and the guidance in your Word, to run my race well. Thank you for your encouragement, grace and kindness to me and that I can do all things before me because you give me strength today. In Jesus name Amen.