Lisa Notes: It’s not goodness I need

It’s not goodness I need

I finally wrote God a letter.

I do that when I get so stuck on an issue that I can’t pray uncluttered.

Father,
What’s really going on with [insert troubling issue here]?

It started because of one thing. It seemed so wrong I could do nothing less than walk away from it.

So I was going to wait it out. But the longer it takes, the more I see that one thing is just a symptom of a much larger thing: is the gospel about works or grace?

If salvation is by works, then it’s manifested through fear of ever changing anything for fear of offending you, of getting it wrong, of breaking a rule.

If salvation is by grace, then it’s safe to take risks for you and trust your Spirit to get it right in me, even if it means failing first and starting over.

Works = trust in my allegiance to the rules
Grace = trust in Jesus

I’m not changed by following a book.
I am transformed by following Jesus.

Works = become an expert in the details to feel safe and in control
Grace = totally depend on Jesus even if it feels out of my control

Am I thinking clearly, God?

[etc.]

I didn’t mail the letter.

But I’m pretty sure God received it anyway.
Because he keeps answering me back.

He’s letting me know that being good is nice, but good is not best.
Good is not grace.
More important than me being good is God being glorified.

Obedience isn’t the goal.
Loving him is the goal.
Obedience is just one of the ways I love him.

It’s not goodness I need, it’s God.

Can I get stuck on that, Father?
That’s good news.
That’s your gospel.

I love you,
Lisa

* * *

Do you ever resort to writing a letter to God, too?

Comments (18)

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Dianna · 680 weeks ago

"Obedience isn’t the goal.
Loving him is the goal.
Obedience is just one of the ways I love him. " I love this Lisa! Obedience truly is just one of the ways we show Him we love Him, isn't it? I write Him letters too! :)

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

I'm glad to know you write him letters too. :-) I go through seasons where I do that frequently, and then periods where I don't at all. Either way, I know he hears our deepest prayers at all times, and knows the intent of our heart, regardless of how well we're able to behave on the outside (or not).
My recent post It’s not goodness I need

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tinuviel · 680 weeks ago

Very helpful. Thank you for letting us into your struggle and prayer.
My recent post A Monday Prayer from Psalm 42

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

I feel like I continually have to re-learn some of the same simple truths over and over, but nonetheless, I'm glad God listens to me and helps me work through it. And thank you for listening and praying too. You're special.
My recent post It’s not goodness I need

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brian miller · 680 weeks ago

smiles...lots of truth in this...and there are def times i struggle to pray and want to try to hold things in my own power or even dictate the way i want it to work out...like those thoughts on obedience as well...
My recent post Cut the red wire & hope---the bomb doesn't blow

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

It's probably a good thing that I don't have the power to make things work out the way *I* want them to...just sayin'. The world would probably have ended long ago. ;-)
My recent post It’s not goodness I need

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@gmthul · 680 weeks ago

You have captured a beautifully simple Truth perfectly here.

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

It's those simple truths that I want to hold the deepest... Thanks for stopping by.
My recent post It’s not goodness I need

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Lynn Severance · 680 weeks ago

Lisa, I love this posting and your letter to God. . .and where He brought you with your questionings.

My daily journal is my letter/s to God ( to answer your question). It is the cries of my heart poured out, the praises of my heart when insight is returned, typed out heartbeats of relationship in the present moments. I now type out my journal on the computer after years of handwriting it daily and then print it off and put it into 3- ring binder notebooks.

"More important than me being good is God being glorified."

This excerpt from your words could be a whole new thread of thoughts. e.g. More important than me feeling good, is God being glorified. More important than my winning an argument is God being glorified. Mroe important than my immediate want being satisfied, is God being glorified.

This one sentence - although all the others are great - is my take away. Loving God IS the goal and in the loving is the glory and in loving Him we come to a rest and out of the works that drain.

Whew - you always encourage me to go deeper! Thanks for sharing your letters, that merge into words that merge into sentences that brighten our days. And particularly today - thank you for sharing your letter to God!

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

Do you ever wonder who might read your journals after you are gone? Some things I write and then immediately tear up for fear of anyone else ever finding them. ;-) Not that anyone would want to read through notebook after notebook of my stuff! ha. But still. I'm certain your journals are filled with wisdom that could really benefit someone...

"More important than me feeling good..." Yes, you're right that this train of thought could lead to much more. It shows me how much simpler my life could be if I could keep him always as THE all-important thing.

Thanks for your encouraging words, again, Lynn. I look forward to reading more on your blog!
My recent post It’s not goodness I need

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imperfect prose · 680 weeks ago

i've really been thinking this through as of late, too, friend... it isn't about doing. it's about love. everything is about love. (love this... love your transparent heart...)

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

"everything is about love."
That's it, yes. What a beautiful mantra that would make throughout my day...
My recent post It’s not goodness I need

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barbarah 65p · 680 weeks ago

I used to keep a journal. I threw away the one I had in high school and that was probably for the best, but sometimes I miss that window into the girl I used to be. I do get concerned, even in Bible study books, about answering the questions that get personal and then having somebody else find them, lol! I don't know that I have ever written a letter to God, but I do tend to think things through by writing some times. I had a post like that earlier this week -- it seemed there were so many jumbled thoughts the only way I could sort them was just to take one at a time and work through it.

It was kind of on this same topic, but a different angle. I am SO glad that obedience is how I show I love Him, not something I have to do to earn His favor -- we'd all be in big trouble then. But I've been concerned about seeing some take the concept of grace to the point where they take obedience out of the Christian life almost entirely, yet the NT has plenty of instances of some form of the word "obey." That would be an interesting word study some time. Grace doesn't negate obedience: it enables obedience, or should, and provides for us when we fail as we often do. So many seem to have forgotten or overlooked that concept of showing our love by obedience and seeking to please him.

I probably shouldn't write late at night -- I can't think clearly, lol.
My recent post Allow me to introduce…

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

I did read your post earlier this week on works and grace but didn't have time to comment at that time. You really did the issue justice. I wasn't sure when you started how you would approach it. :-) But you were able to pull it off well.

Having grown up amongst very works-oriented folks, I am quite familiar with "faith without works is dead" side, so finding and understanding grace still continues to amaze me.

I love, love your statement:

"Grace doesn't negate obedience: it enables obedience." Yes.

I have several workbooks that I've filled out through the years also, and they sit on my shelves. I wouldn't want anybody reading through them, but then again, I can't imagine anyone wanting to. ha. But because I know it's always a possibility, I tend to guard what I write down too, just in case. :-)
My recent post It’s not goodness I need

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elizabethfstewart 38p · 680 weeks ago

I used to write letters to God during my angst-y teen years...oh how I wish I'd kept them! :)
My recent post Swimming lessons…

1 reply · active 680 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 680 weeks ago

I have a few journals and letters I wrote to God in my 20s (not high school days--just sappy love poems then, ha), but when I re-read them one time, I ended up tearing out a few pages. ;-) Will we have to do that with our blogs 20 years from now???
My recent post It’s not goodness I need