I love Hello Mornings, an online ministry dedicated to encouraging women to spend time with God, plan their day, and make healthy choice first thing in the morning. This encouragement is wonderful and has really changed my life but (and this is a big but), if I start to hold Hello Mornings’ advice up to the same level of God’s word I can find myself discouraged, feeling guilty and wallowing in self-induced shame. Which, I am sure, neither God nor the Hello Morning staff wants.

So why can I end up feeling so low? Because when I focus on a my checklist (even a short God-Plan-Move checklist) instead of my Savior, I begin to base my worth on whether or not I am able put a check next to each item. I turn my simple desire to want to know God more, live my day for Him, and be physically fit to do so into a works-based religion. And true Christianity, my friends, is not works based.

Christianity is fully rooted in grace – the undeserved, never ever earned favor of God. My righteousness, my right standing, before my Heavenly Father is not based on anything I have or haven’t done. Ever! God doesn’t look at me and shake His head when I don’t get up early enough to read my Bible uninterrupted for 15 minutes in the morning. He doesn’t consider my beautifully penned day planner (or may ability to stay on schedule) a thermometer for how “good” I am. And He doesn’t take into consideration how much food I ate or how many miles I ran before He calls me His child.

Instead, He look at me through His Son Jesus Christ. The God-Man who walked the earth, obey the Father perfectly (both outwardly and inwardly) on my behalf, and now sits at the right hand of God, praying for me continually. Why? Because I’m not perfect. I can’t be perfect. I’m a horrible, messy sinner who always will be and am in desperate need of a Savior. Jesus loves me. He saved me. And He shares His reward for being perfectly obedient with me. Even though I don’t deserve it. It’s love! It’s grace!

My righteousness (aka my good standing) before God is not dependent on anything I can do for Him. It’s completely dependent on what Jesus has already done for me. With this knowledge I can have peace. I don’t need to worry about trying harder to be good. I don’t need to work my tail off trying to please my Father. I can rest. Jesus has me.

So, yes, I will God-Plan-Move with Hello Mornings and you should to… if you want… but not out of obligation. Instead, let’s God-Plan-Move with a focus on Jesus, a desire to simply be with Him and to know Him more.

But We See Jesus is the next Hello Mornings study. It starts Monday, June 20th and covers the first half of the book of Hebrews. I had the privilege of working with a few other authors to bring you the commentary in the study. The focus is on the superiority and work of Christ which enables us to stop striving and rest freely in Him. Perfect, right!?!

Click here to learn more about the study. Also, be sure to look into joining an accountability group to help you stay on task as you move through the study. If you have any questions about Hello Mornings, But We See Jesus, or Bible study in general drop me a line.

Only by grace,