In terms of spiritual disciplines, discipleship and grace here's some more thoughts from the book "Blue like Jazz."
"Our behaviour will not be changed long with self-discipline, but fall in love and a human will accomplish what he never thought possible. The laziest of men will swim the English channel to win his woman. I think what Rick (writer's pastor) said is worth repeating that by accepting God's love for us, we fall in love with Him, and only then do have the fuel we need to obey.
In exchange for our humility and willingness to accept the charity of god, we are given a kingdom. And a beggar's kingdom is better than a proud man's delusion."
The rest of the chapter is very insightful in this whole area many of us struggle with in terms of that fine line of obeying God in our own strength and obeying God because we love him, not because we want to prove how good we are.
Posted by edOh my. This hit me right between the eyes. I have been struggling with an issue for so very long... and in the past few months, via my fellow bloggers, He has peeled back the layers of the issue. I think that today, He used you to peel back the last one.
I think I need to be still a little while, and discover what this new place looks like.
Posted by: wilsonianIf it brings you closer to him, way cool!
Posted by: ed