{"id":23496,"date":"2018-07-17T03:30:05","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T10:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=23496"},"modified":"2018-07-10T14:06:17","modified_gmt":"2018-07-10T21:06:17","slug":"july-17-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/07\/17\/july-17-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"July 17, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cBeing confident of this very thing, He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.\u201d <\/em>Philippians 1:6<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Completion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>It feels so good when we complete a project or plan. The burden is lifted. Like cleaning house, decorating a room, or finishing a shopping trip, the greatest fulfillment is in the finished work. I\u2019ve recently taken an online class. Although it was good information and an enjoyable blessing, it was time-consuming and required commitment. Now that I\u2019m on the other side, I can say I\u2019ve been enriched, and the Lord has blessed me. But I was always striving for completion in each required paper or project. In other things too, I\u2019m always looking for the finish line when I start something. Why can\u2019t I enjoy the process?<\/p>\n

When thinking about God\u2019s complete work, we can be confident He will complete the work in His time, in His way and for His purpose\u2014which is for our good. We are His poem, His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). We don\u2019t have to worry or be anxious\u2014His promise stands. \u201cBut let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(James 1:4). When we keep our eyes fixed on things above, and not the circumstances, we can patiently endure and maybe even enjoy the process of the sometimes silent work He is doing in each of us which will one day be complete. I think this is His higher call: to enjoy His process.<\/p>\n

Webster\u2019s says: \u201cComplete means to be brought to an end, concluded or total, absolute.\u201d In Christ there\u2019s a deeper meaning still: to express the final and entire attainment, leaving nothing behind to be desired or hoped for. Satisfied, fulfilled.<\/p>\n

Each day I wake up knowing I have things to do, things that need to be completed. Most daily things never seem to be finished; it\u2019s the same thing every day. But when looking at life from God\u2019s perspective, everything should be an adventure in Him, watching what He will unfold because He is completing or finishing the work He began in me.<\/p>\n

How can I embrace this truth? It\u2019s not by looking for others to satisfy or complete me. It\u2019s romantic to think my spouse will complete me, although it\u2019s partly true. It\u2019s only by resting in Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit\u2019s peace to penetrate every part of me in spite of circumstances that I can be complete. I can enjoy the Lord\u2019s Word, and worship Him for His unending goodness and grace. I can be thankful for His love and the confidence He gives, knowing He is working everything for good in His perfect and complete way and time. I need to step into this place, keeping focused on His hand and purpose, knowing He has planned even the seemingly unimportant. It\u2019s important to Him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDear Lord, I give over my incompleteness, knowing I\u2019m complete in You in every way. I pray to know deeper still Your love that truly satisfies and completes me, that I may be usable in Your kingdom, being part of Your plan. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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