Dance, Stand, Run: The God-Inspired Moves of a Woman on Holy Ground

by Jess Connolly

When we talk about grace without holiness, grace begins to lose its weight.

The symptoms of forsaking holiness in my own life look like rhythms of constantly treating myself, excusing myself, and becoming desensitized to the things of this world that break God’s heart. I forget that I was sent here to be the light in the dark, not to learn to love the dark myself.

without a sobering and continual look at sin and holiness, we can’t truly grasp how great grace is.

We don’t have to choose between pursuing holiness and celebrating the grace we’ve been given. Instead, we’re invited into abundant life—grace and holiness in harmony together.

we don’t just find our identity in God, but that we find our future in His kingdom. We already belong, and we are so ready to be used to bring other people with us.

For grace to be extended, for God to do His incredible leaning thing, sin and brokenness must first be present.

Grace is God’s grand gesture to draw us close to Him,

because we in our sin would not make that move on our own. Grace is the leaning in of God toward our broken state. We need grace because our natural state as fallen humans calls for condemnation, not closeness. We deserve punishment, but He initiates proximity.

All of creation was premeditated by love and purpose when He made each of us intentionally and formed us with pleasure, down to every intimate detail, and proclaimed us as GOOD—that is love we can’t fathom. And when we run as far as we possibly can from relationship with Him—toward independence, self-sufficiency, and what seems to be good to us—that is sin. And when, in His grief, He leans toward us again—while we’re still sinners and sure to keep on running—to make a way for us to still be in a relationship with Him, just because He loves us and wants good for us and glory for Him—THAT is grace.

Jesus lets her feel the weight of her sin so that she can feel the strength of His grace.

We’re daughters of God who currently stand on holy ground, not because of our merit or our works, but because of His work in our lives and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Prayer reorients our hearts to His and redefines the inextricable bond we have with our Father.

The everlasting truth of who God is and what He does is black and white, but the interpretation of what it looks like for us to fit into Christian culture is constantly shifting with the voices that teach us. God is the solid ground, while the teaching of our generation is more like the tectonic plates beneath our continents.

Word of God is the only offensive weapon that’s listed in that armor.

The way we talk can be set apart, the way we relate can be set apart, the way we speak, encourage, admonish, and cheer on can be so vastly different from everyone else because we know better.

we are safe to celebrate the accomplishments, achievements, and blessings of others when we know that we ourselves are blessed. We can hold our own heartache, pain, loss, and disappointments in one hand while we pat someone on the back with the other because we know the truth: in Jesus, we are all blessed.

we are the women of God and we’re here to speak life. Let’s ask God to give us the words and stir up our hearts, and let’s partner with Him in shifting the perspective of people everywhere.

You have a calling. It’s the Great Commission. It’s to make disciples, teach them God’s truth, and remember that the entire Trinity is with you all the way.

We’ve got to walk with people. We’ve got to go to people. We’ve got to stand firm on our own holy ground while engaging in relationship with them.