end. [semester & me]

Don’t Do Anything

In the second half of the semester here at Elim, God has completely blown me away with His ability to do anything and everything that I cannot do. Time and time again, as homework stacked up and it seemed that I just didn’t have enough time in the day to write an essay or do an assignment, things worked out. The essay was written, the assignment due date was extended, I was infused with a sharp mind at a moment’s notice. I am so grateful that God helped me put Him before homework. I came to Elim telling God that I was going to put understanding Him before everything else- before grades, assignments, friendships, and fun. I honored that, by His grace, this semester and often times chose worship or prayer time when there was little time left for homework. Now, all that to say I am certainly still working on the area of procrastination and spreading out work. But God knows that I’m not good at that yet, and so He provides grace as I give my honest best & even when I mess up.

The last month here, really the last two weeks, were the most insane. I had essays and assignments out the wazoo and yet somehow this incredible peace kept me calm and at ease. Talk about a peace that passes understanding! (Philippians 4:7) And I’m serious when I say I believe all the professors here were praying hard for us students- I could FEEL the impact of their prayers, on my brain and my heart. THANK YOU! I could hardly ask for more than for professors who care to pray for me and want the very best for me. So, in the last week I found myself turning out essays that I barely knew I could write, all through the Holy Spirit and a commitment to putting him first and doing good work on the assignments, even though it meant a few were turned in late. Can I testify to something? I got better grades than I ever expected—on every final exam and every final class grade. Who is this God?

The entire last 2 weeks, God told me something over and over nearly every day when I came to Him in prayer asking Him how in the world I was going to complete everything. He said: “Don’t do anything.”

Really, Lord? What is that supposed to mean? It means exactly that—don’t do anything. What I realized only a little bit then as I trusted Him and all the more now as I’ve seen the result of operating in that word is this: God was saying “Carleigh, you don’t do anything. I must be the one doing everything.” When it comes down to me completely surrendering my desire to prove that I’m good enough and that I can pull my own weight, God gets to take control. (He knows I'm not good enough and can't pull my weight--I just need to get on board with the truth) AND HOW MUCH BETTER THAT IS!

I understand a little more how Paul could say “I delight in weaknesses....for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

I was created to do good works. Not bad works. (Ephesians 2:10) So I can fully believe that now, as a new creation solely by the grace of the Lord, every work he has set before me he has intended for me to do well, to do good. Praise God! That means that He has also made a way for me, through HIS power, to complete each and every good work He has created me for. I really have to practice this one thing: surrender...and I will find that from that weakness and place of humility, where the flesh is crucified and it is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me (Galatians 2:20), that I am strong and undefeatable. Hallelujah! To God be the glory! I cannot begin to describe the glorious freedom, favor and power that come from this simple practice: “Don’t do anything.”

Jesus said “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5

In Him, and not in Carleigh, I will bear much fruit. Amen.