Undergraduate Retreat: Part 1

Somewhere along the lines, I bought into lies. The only way God could use me was...

if I just prayed harder
if I just read the Bible more
if I just read more Christian books
if I just listened to holier songs
if I just went to more church activities
if I just spent more time with people
if I just knew everything of God
if I just more articulated in speech
if I just stopped lying
if I just fast and pray
if I just talk about God all the time
if I just clung to my Christian friends

Somewhere along the lines, I bought into more lies. God can't use me...

because I am shy
because I am skinny
because I am a poor speaker
because I'm not smart
because I have skeletons in my closet
because I am self-righteous
because I am proud
because I am stubborn
because I am average
because I lack self-confidence
because I am ugly.

But then God says...

it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, not by works
my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir
you were once lost, but now you are found
there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.