by Dr. Amanda McElroy
I cringed, and then hit my brakes hard, trying to avoid running over the two frogs hopping across the driveway I was traversing. I grimaced as a memory flashed across my mind of a time, years ago, when I bragged on social media that I had swerved to intentionally hit a squirrel. Tonight, I am grateful for growth. I’m grateful I’m not the person I was yesterday, last week, last year, and especially not all those years ago when I intentionally swerved in an attempt to run over one of God’s creatures. I’m grateful God gives us the opportunity to learn from poor decisions, to learn from His Word, and to try again, and again, and again after failing. I’m glad that His mercies are new every morning because every morning I need His mercy. Every morning I need His divine guidance and strength to help me do right, make decisions that honor Him, say (or not say) words that please Him, and to give glory to Him for His goodness and grace. Every day I should be trying to be not just a better version of myself, but a more Christ-like version of myself. I am so saturated with Pinterest memes and TikTok reels with messages filling my mind with self, self, self. Tonight, I am grateful for the opportunity to hit a reset button so I can work on being saturated with God’s Word, and with songs that worship Him filling my mind with thoughts of Christ, Christ, Christ. I’m grateful for the chance to grow into a more Christ-like version of myself. Because every day I fail. Every day I sin. Every day I need God’s mercy and grace. I’m glad that tonight’s knee-jerk reaction to seeing God’s creatures crossing the road was so very different that my shameful memory from years ago.
“It is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
How does one pursue change of such vast degree in their life? It’s simple, maybe not easy, but simple: time with the Lord! Spending time reading the Bible, reflecting on it, pursuing the thoughts we have when reading it. Spending time in prayer, and not just for ourselves, but for others, and for God’s guidance in our lives. And by spending time in worship, filling our minds with Christ-honoring music that helps us keep our focus on Him throughout our day.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45
“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the difference maker in my life between my two moments of reaction to the squirrel crossing the road years ago to the frogs jumping across the driveway tonight is simple: back then I didn’t read my Bible consistently, I didn’t pray, and I filled my head and heart with music that might not have been wicked, but did not honor God. Now, I make a point to be consistent in reading my Bible daily, spending time in prayer, and ensuring the majority of the music I listen to honors the Lord. I used to fill my head with self and sprinkle God on top. Now I strive to keep God first in life. I fail daily. But the effort is there, and if tonight’s automatic reaction to possibly running over 2 little frogs when I knew I could avoid it is any indication – He’s been working on me.
There is a song from my childhood that goes a little something like this:
"He's still working on me
To make me what I ought to be
It took Him just a day to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still working on me
There really ought to be a sign upon my heart
Don’t judge him yet, there’s an unfinished part
But I’ll be better just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master’s loving hands
He’s still working on me
To make me what I ought to be
It took Him just a day to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still working on me
In the mirror of His word
Reflections that I see
Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me
But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He’s the potter, I’m the clay
He’s still working on me
To make me what I ought to be
It took Him just a day to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still working on me
