It's A Plank in My Eye // Grace Space // Sharnita Gates

Blessings everyone, and good morning and welcome back to The Gray Space. I'm excited to be here. I'm Sharnita Gates, and I, I— today is going to be a word that we really is going to need a lot of grace for. Um, And this is the space for that. So blessings everyone as we get our daily devotion, reflection, and our daily strategy and approach. Let's connect with God as we grow. God first, and it's our responsibility to take heed on the instructions that has been given. And we're thankful that in this grace space, God's grace is sufficient. And the grace that Jesus has extended to us through his word, through his life, through the way and being the truth, we can really embrace that. So today, honestly, in this space, you guys, when I am here, this is a safe space to really just be who you are. This is the space that we're going to grow. We're, we're not seeking perfection. Our standard is excellence, um, and we do that with an excellence— excellent responsibility, because that allows us to be a witness that we're always growing, um, in this space. for me allows me to really grow, be able to grow. Let's, let's dive into the word. Um, and this one, this Grace Space title is The Plank. The Plank. Okay, have you ever heard or watched a pirate movie and you always hear somebody like walking the plank and you, you see somebody walking behind them, like, okay, to push them off. But, um, this is going to be called the plank. So let's, let's reflect on that as far as when we're, when we're walking on something that we're not sure, or we're walking into something that we're not sure of the outcome, but we still have that responsibility because of where we are. And this one is going to allow us to really reflect on how we really need to receive grace, give grace, think about grace, be in that space of grace at all times, especially as we're growing. And I, I love that this is a space where we can grow, and I I was in a season of rest when I started the Gray Space, and it was like a rest of trying to grow in what I really had no clarity on. I didn't know what was next, what was to come. And this— it allowed me to be in this season Where I am now is where the order in which I do things really matter. And sometimes when things are out of order, you have to kind of reel yourself back in, reel yourself back in and say, let me, let me get the first step right. And for me, then this gray space of growing and rest. I didn't get that first part right. I jumped right into sports or jumped into the next, but just taking that first step. And this is a season for me to ask, asking, asking, asking. I'm, I'm gonna repeat it because that's, you know, um, for me being a, a, the CRO of this Grace space. I want you to remember to ask, ask our Father what we, what we need, and he so graciously give it. So asking for wisdom, asking for discernment, asking for self-control, asking for grace, asking for mercy— those are things that I tend to not do. And so in this season, season of asking I'm asking, I'm asking, and it is, it is, it is coming because, um, yeah, today's word, the plank. Yeah, let's, let's talk about the plank. Let's get it, let's, let's get into the word. It is coming from Luke 6:41, verse 41. Why Wow, the word is so good. Sometimes I, I just— like I said, the order matters, but how it starts is always, um, how I like to go back. And it's the reflection right there. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Why? That's our reflection on today. The grace is why. And it took me some time to really do that introspection and say, why? Why do I, you know, look at maybe the, the speck of sawdust in someone else's eye and not really pay no attention to what's Really, in my eye, you know, in my own eye, like, and it took me to realize that the vision in my heart, I wasn't really giving much effort to. And now asking that question, what Jesus asking that question, and me really taking it Like, okay, because I was always on the go, always on the go. If, if I'm leading from the front, I'm really only seeing what's in front of me. And so if everyone is in front of you, then how do you see yourself? So you kind of— for me, I— it was like, okay, why? It's because I haven't really stopped to even focus on me. Wow. I was like, that's, that's that season of rest that I was talking about, where it's like when the word came, like, don't just merely think that you are a listener but be a doer. And like, it's like looking in a mirror and quickly forgetting what you look like. That really hit me hard. Like I can't even see me, but I also can't see the, the speck that's in my eye because I can only see others in their space. So it's like, okay, now it's time to shift, shift. So the reflection is on why, and after doing that reflection, it really allowed me to Go on a journey of grace. And guys, it is like the, the space to actually say, you know, I'm not perfect. I'm not even— look, I'm not even trying to shoot for perfection. Now I am trying to go towards, you know, that, that, that way of perfection, but I know that God is, you know, the only perfect Her, and then Jesus and his Holy Spirit. So it allowed me to change the direction in which I was going and say, I'm still getting that— going in that direction, that straight and narrow path to perfection, because I know that's where my Savior, my Lord, my King is. So it allowed me to open up my eyes to see, like, that's the vision. that God has planted in my heart, that where I'm not trying to understand things anymore, but really, really— okay, there's a— some, some sawdust in my eye. There's some sawdust in my eye. And thank you, God, for this gray space where every time we come in, we reflect, we devote ourselves to your word. Which is Christ, and get that faith. Like, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God about Christ. The revelation in there, like, as far as the instructions on in this season of asking— I'm asking, he's giving me the instruction. So the grace is sufficient enough for me to say, okay, This is how to take this, this, this, this, this plank of sawdust. Like, it's, it's built up to where it's like a, a plank now, and I'm just walking on it. Um, I'm not just— it's just not just blowing in my face anymore. It's just like, oh, it's your walk. Um, and it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's peace. It's peaceful. It's peaceful in, um, not carrying any weight and saying that, you know, I do not want to, or I'm not here to take the, um, the sawdust, or take the things that you have in your eye, or things that God is showing you or someone else. I'm here to look. My eyes is just like rubbing your eyes. I'm rubbing my eyes like I'm fixing my focus. I need clarity. I need to see so that in this space, as I continue to grow, my obedience grows. So that's that responsibility that I'm talking about as far as with the word. Why do you? If you don't know why you're doing something, this is the space, the gray space, to really reflect on that and devote yourself to say, okay, this is why I'm doing it. And then he said— he asked— he said, and you pay no attention. So that means we have to pay attention. I'm in this season in the gray space where we say, I want to know everything that God said do not do. Okay, I, I want to know what I should not do, and that way I can know what I should do. So, and then he say you can pay no attention. I'm not— if you're not paying any attention, that means you need to pay attention. And he said to the plank in your own eye. So fixing the focus as far as, okay, You need to fix that. This great space, everyone who's listening, take some time to really reflect and look in the mirror and say to yourself, what am I not seeing? Reflect on that. Devote yourself to that. And that, that's our strategy and approach for today. Am I full of grace and mercy Mercy. We're going through this whole mercy cycle, um, compassion and forgiveness, and when we're not trying to harm and, you know, really understanding what mercy is. Because I was just thinking on the other day, I was in prayer and I thought about how the flood came and wiped everybody out because of the anger of the The Lord burned so bad that, but I felt it. I felt it. And I said, even where I am as I am at as a person here now and repenting for the things that I've done and going through the process of thanking God for his His mercy, thanking God for His forgiveness and His compassion. Because when I think about how it could just end today, right now, any time, because of you know the the the the points. Yeah, the things that I need to constantly repent on, the things that especially in this process of transformation and Renewing my mind and casting down every thought and bringing every thought to the obedience of Christ and persevering. There's so many aspects of life that opens up the need for awareness. Like, the more and more I dive into this gray space, the more and more you dive into these gray space, the more and more you, you get into God's grace. The, you know, you, you, you're surrounded by prayer, you're surrounded by the word, fellowship, and witnessing. You're, you're putting on your armor every day, like the helmet of salvation, thinking about the goodness of Christ being our Savior, that it is only by his sacrifice, his love for us that he gave, that we don't have to carry around so much and so much guilt, shame, or anything, because we can cast it all on him with thanksgiving, saying, thank you, God, that I'm able— I don't have to carry this or carry that, and I can think about your grace. I could think about your love. That is the, the greatness of this space, to receive all of that in. So when looking at other people's sins, we— when it comes— look, we, we all Sin. We are, we are all sinners. And so I'm— I really haven't switched, like, as far as the focus of people's sins, because my whole overall thing is we're all born in a world of sin. So although that I'm not looking at people's sin in a way saying you're a sinner, you're a sinner, you're a sinner, But what I am saying, that there is a need for a shift where start looking at y'all, like really, really saying, okay, I, I am a sinner. But, but not just saying I am a sinner, really reflecting on what, what is my sins? Like, do I even know what my sins is? Am I paying— even paying attention to areas where, um, I can improve? And in doing that daily, and doing that daily, and doing that daily, doing it daily, really, I'm, I'm really expressing that because really it's something to do daily, like getting to see yourself and say, okay, well, um, one, I'll just share this. And it was, um, be angry but sin not. And one of the things as far as when it comes to anger and you really thinking like, okay, I'm not, I'm not sinning, but really you're— sometimes your anger can cause you to fall so deep into, you know, sin that you don't even realize it. So I was like, okay, there's things that Okay, for me not accepting that some things do anger or irritate me or bother me, um, but that's my unique agitation, um, that unique agitation, that means that I— this is part of my assignment. It's passion, something within me that I'm passionate about, and really taking my emotions as cues for what God is trying to teach me in this season. So it allows me to say, okay, when it comes to anger, how to navigate those feelings and, and saying, okay, well, I— that, that bothers me. It bothers me, but I'm not going to allow it to cause me to step into sin and do something that I— if I forget what I look like, if I forget who I am, if I forget that God said that I am fearfully and I'm wonderfully made, I'm the head, and I'm more than a conqueror, I am his daughter. And so just like the father can only— I mean, the son can only do what the father does, so for the soul is the same for me. I can only do what my father does, so I have to Approach and ask my Father, like Lord God, how do I need to change? Take this out of me. Remove this out of me. Not necessarily the feeling of agitation, but that there's something that comes afterward that that self-imposed nuisance, that nuisance that I just want okay. It might. I might think it might be something that could possibly change me, or you know bring some temporary relief to that agitation. It's not going to bring any temporary relief. It may, but we're talking about eternal relief. Jesus is eternal. The word is eternal. So Lord, I need your word. I need your your reproof. I need your I need your correcting. I need your training so that I can replace that, that way with the way, the life, and the truth. So this is one of the things that, as far as the approach, is asking ourselves, do I justify my own failings while judging others? Do I tend to justify my own failings while judging others? This is an approach, and I'd say really take some time and think on, think on this question. Think on and be honest. Be honest. It's a difference between us. You want to— there's a difference between assessing and judging. So instead of checking to see if, you know, are you judging someone, like, okay, am I assessing the situation? Let me assess the situation and not the person. That way, when it comes down to that situation happening with another person, you're still not judging the person, but you're just assessing the situation. And after you've done the introspection and the reflection and, and actually apply that strategy, okay, say, okay, I'm not— I see that this is a pattern, and because it is a pattern, I can Apply the things that I have assessed and the strategy and the approach, and now I'm going to approach it differently. Now for me, once once I've got the instructions on be angry but sin not, now I know it's okay for me to be angry in a way of receive you know validating that that feeling has come. Someone may have crossed a boundary, or someone may have said something that. That wasn't so, so nice. I'm not going to judge that person. I'm going to make sure that I do not sin. I'm going to make sure that I'm still focusing on what the word says, and I'm going to apply that. And if, you know, the word says give the other person a cheek, if I have to give them another cheek, then I'm gonna have to do that because that's the instruction. That's the— that's God's protection, that's God's love, and it's— he's very merciful. So thank you guys for joining the Grace Space. I pray that this space has been very fruitful and it is multiplying different reflections and the word into your life. So I would, I would say go back and read Luke 6:41 and really reflect on the question of, do I tend to justify My own failings while judging others. So let's pray. Father, help me to always judge myself truthfully. Father, yes, allow me to judge myself truthfully. Thank you that Jesus is the truth, that you've entrusted all judgment. To him, Lord, and that we can honor you by honoring the Son. So in this moment, Lord, I thank you that we're able to repent, to turn and receive your mercy, receive your grace, but be able to walk in the truth. Truth in knowing that you sees us, see us, that you hear us, and that you love us. And so we worship you, Lord. We exalt your name. We stand in awe of you. We glorify you. We reverence you. In your Son Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you guys for joining the Grace Space. Blessings. Be blessed.