Integrity and Faithfulness, mine or His?

Grace and peace to you my friends,

" Vindicate me, O LORD,
        for I have walked in my integrity,
        and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
    Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
        test my heart and my mind.
    For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
        and I walk in your faithfulness."
Psalm 26:1-3 ESV

This morning my first reaction to reading this was a rather negative one. "There's no way I can say this and really mean it, I've fallen so short lately." However as I sat and meditated on these Words God began to remind me that:

"Of course your going to fall short. I would not have needed to send my Son to you if you had the ability to be holy as I am on your own. Stop dreading and start looking to me through whom you can do all things. Do I not love you incomparably? Have I not been faithful to bring you safely through everything that I have ever called you to do? My son, is not My grace sufficient for you?"

As I pondered this imaginary conversation, I realized that He is right. In my own strength I could never pray these verses to Him with anything but hypocrisy. However, when Christ is my Savior and Lord, I'm not living in my own strength any more. By the grace of God the Father, I can and will grow into the image of His Son.  So, I can look Him in the eye, so to speak, and say these Words with confidence. Although I may waver in this life, the source and power of my living shall never waver, never fail and never disappoint. My God is faithful and His "steadfast love is" always "before my eyes" and His Faithfulness endures forever.

"Father God, thank you for the confidence you give to your people. Thank you for the grace and mercy that has opened our eyes to see your faithfulness and steadfast love. Give us the grace I pray to walk before you in integrity, faithfully trusting your goodness and honoring you with our lives. I know because your Word is true that on the day we finally stand before you in your physical presence you will look on us with the righteousness of Christ and prove us worthy to enter your holy temple. Praise, praise be unto your name for you alone are the only wise God and you alone have rescued and restored your people. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen"

For the Joy of Your Faith and the Faithfulness of His Love,
Teagan