It is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance.

Do you ever avoid taking time out to listen for God because you are sure He is going to hit you with a 2×4? I have often done that myself and I can’t tell you how often I hear this from the ladies I have sat with in Spiritual Direction.

Often what we think we will hear from God is actually the voice of our own inner critic or the voice of the enemy who will stop at nothing to keep us from soaking in God’s goodness. Although there are times God pierces us with conviction most often He longs to enfold us in His grace and refresh our spirits with His love. He is so much gentler with us than we are with ourselves! It is His kindness that leads us to repentance.

“I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.”
Hosea 11:4

Are you beating yourself up with a 2×4? Are you ready to set it down and allow yourself to be embraced by your kind, Heavenly Father?

Copyright Jennifer Brukiewa

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Several years ago, Jennifer Brukiewa set aside her professional stage career and gig as a Disney World actress/singer to pour into the lives of teens working alongside her husband in youth ministry. Currently, as a retreat leader and Certified Spiritual Director, she is honored to create safe places for others to share their stories, joys and struggles and explore with them ways to listen for the heartbeat of God and “breathe the gospel” in their day to day life. She loves to garden, art journal, and admits to being slightly addicted to the BBC show Dr Who. Her home is in Elbert, CO where she lives with 1 dog, 3 cats, 14 chickens, 1 hermit crab, 2 rats, 3 daughters (15, 12 and 8) and her incredible husband of 22 years. She and her family have been members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church since 2007. To learn more about her ministry in Spiritual Direction go to www.attendinggrace.com