“Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.” Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (p. 62)

It’s hard to put into words what it’s meant to me to look at what God wants from me and live it – not what I think you want from me nor what I think God wants from you and I try to help you get there, but what He wants from me… and do that daily.  

Stephen Covey’s right, it’s holy ground.

A while back, someone tried to help me by giving this advice, “Get into your Bible, read about the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control), and live it.” 

Helpful and holy advice, right? Except I couldn’t do it.

I tried hard, but the best I had to offer was fake fruit. I faked it for years. Anytime someone complimented anything good about me, I thanked them and thought If you really knew me, you’d know it’s not true. 

We talked about the fruit of the spirit in Sunday school and I shared how I could be nice to anyone, but it seldom felt genuine. I wanted it to be, but like I said in my last blog post, we can’t love and control at the same time. I typically wanted to straighten out people. 

I called it helping, but, if I’m honest, my need to fix people welled up from my own unhealed places – not a holy or helpful place at all. 

It wasn’t until I walked into a church full of people, sat in book studies with people, and came under the care of a prophet and his wife who depended on the Holy Spirit’s help that I changed. 

I had enough examples of people counting on Him that I felt like I might be able to trust Him too, and not abandon my resolve every time I felt afraid, which was often until recently. 

I’m old not to have trusted Jesus’ promise sooner, but I trust it now. Here it is from John 14:16 (Amplified version) “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever …”

I’ve never felt closer to God and more like I’m standing on holy ground, and bringing heaven to earth, than I do now – living my holy purpose daily and loving people enough to let them live theirs. Thank you, Jesus, for leaving your Spirit to help.  

In This Together, 
Kim

FYI: I’m blogging my book titled On The Other Side of Trying Hard: Healing, Happiness, and Holiness. Because these blog posts are a manuscript instead of stand-alone stories, some posts may leave you hanging. I hope you’ll hang in here with us anyway ‘cause a happy ending is coming. My blog post title includes the chapter title first. The phrase in parentheses is the subheading. I’m over-the-top grateful to have you here. I’d love to hear your reflections, questions, and comments.