between), he can take our honesty and create from it a life of pas-
sion, compassion, purity, and joy.
Where are you today? Are you striving to create a good-looking
outer-level story that you can peddle on the street corners of your
life? Are you trying to impress others with your achievements and
your busy-ness?
Stop. Be still. God is trying to get your attention. He is waiting for
you to come to him in prayer, calling you to put down all your best
efforts and face the truth before him. You are a sinner—no matter
how many points you may have chalked up in your outer-level story.
As Paul said, “All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” (Rom.
3:23, author’s paraphrase). You are one of the “all.”
Those are the simple facts of your inner story and mine. And until
we are willing to throw open the windows of our wounds to the
healing light of God’s grace, we will never have the inner story he de-
sires.
Meet him now in the silent inner room of the heart and call on
him in prayer. Let him create in you a clean heart and renew in you
a steadfast spirit (see Ps. 51).
Oh, Father, I surrender my pretenses. Forgive me for trying to look
good when apart from you, I’m not. Forgive me for trying to chalk
up spiritual brownie points in order to impress others or make my-
self feel worthwhile. I ask you to take my life exactly as it is and use
it. Breathe on me, Holy Spirit. Take me and make me whatever you
will. Amen.170 CLAIRECLONINGER