Proverbs 24:10
In other words, (my personal translation)"If you collapse under pressure, where is your strength?"
Don't ever let it be said that God can't show you something in the very, very mundane of life. If you're waiting for the big stuff, like I have been or that big splash that hasn't happened you might ask yourself, as I have a jillion times, "God what is it??? What are you trying to show me? Teach me?" I maintain and believe very strongly that God
wastes nothing. He doesn't waste a hurt or a joy. He doesn't waste tragedy or triumph. He doesn't waste progress or defeat. God is intentional.....He's purposeful, deliberate, conscious....The only way I can't find Him in everything is if I'm not mindful of his presence. When I set out on an errand or I'm at home doing a task I can tell you, when I ask God to join me (though he's already there) what a difference.
As I was power washing my patio....which has not been cleaned in six years, I could not believe the amount of pressure it took to remove the dirt and mold. Some spots were easily cleaned, some needed a bit of persistence and some required me to get as close as I could to apply the maximum amount of pressure because the dirt and grime was pressed tightly into the cracks and had been there for a long time. That grime and dirt is a strong barrier to a clean surface. I thought to myself:
I.AM.THAT.PATIO 😳
#1. Some things I cling to are nothing but passing fancies. If I have to pass up the purchase of something I really like or go somewhere I really want to go or miss out on a friend gathering, while disappointing I can usually reason maybe next time.
#2. Then things begin to get a bit uncomfortable.....see God doesn't want a part of my heart. He wants it ALL. All is everything. He wants my time. My attention. My affection. My loyalty. He wants me to rid myself of everything.....hear it again....EVERYTHING ......that turns my heart from him. For he is a jealous God. He is jealous for anything that diverts my heart from him first. And can I say here...there are a lot of really good, worthwhile, well meaning things and circumstances and just like that tough dirt and grime, it takes pressure to extract that which shifts my focus.
#3. Now let's turn up the pressure....There are the things I clinch so tightly that maximum pressure is required to open my hands. If you have had your hands pried open, it is devastating.....it is gut-wrenching. It's so painful you literally want to die. Please hear me....you will never be prepared to have something or someone ripped from your existence. But, for me, there is a difference between being completely blindsided and knowing you are not exempt. I never thought it would happen to me because I simply could not survive it therefore it would not happen.....Naive? Nah, just ignorant. 🤦♀️ I realize now, I sold God so short.
Lastly, the patio is clean. Cleaner than it's been in the last 6 years. But make no mistake, without careful attention it WILL get dirty again. And like that patio, I too, will place "stuff" in my heart again and again in front of Jesus and I will be dirty....and in need of cleaning. It's a day to day often moment by moment, intentional "cleaning" that keeps out that which distracts my heart from its first love.
"One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."
Matthew 22:35-38
Above ALL else!
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:39-40
Interesting isn't it? My desires, wants, perceived needs....actually come AFTER I am "supposed" to have given ALL of my heart to the Lord and my love to others.
It certainly is not easy! It's a constant giving over of self. It's a continual act of picking up my cross. It's actually really hard and often painful. It's a continual honing into the likeness of Christ. But if you know Jesus you wouldnt want to be the likeness of anyone else. When I look to the Word of God and fill myself to overflowing with who he is, what he did for me and the promises given to me, it's all worth it......even enduring the really awful stuff of this world. HE is the power in my weakness. HE has set me on a firm foundation. HE has pulled me from the muck and mire. HE is the light in the valley. When the world changes daily he does not. He is the same today, tomorrow and forever. Why would I want my heart elsewhere?
In other words, (my personal translation)"If you collapse under pressure, where is your strength?"
Don't ever let it be said that God can't show you something in the very, very mundane of life. If you're waiting for the big stuff, like I have been or that big splash that hasn't happened you might ask yourself, as I have a jillion times, "God what is it??? What are you trying to show me? Teach me?" I maintain and believe very strongly that God
wastes nothing. He doesn't waste a hurt or a joy. He doesn't waste tragedy or triumph. He doesn't waste progress or defeat. God is intentional.....He's purposeful, deliberate, conscious....The only way I can't find Him in everything is if I'm not mindful of his presence. When I set out on an errand or I'm at home doing a task I can tell you, when I ask God to join me (though he's already there) what a difference.
As I was power washing my patio....which has not been cleaned in six years, I could not believe the amount of pressure it took to remove the dirt and mold. Some spots were easily cleaned, some needed a bit of persistence and some required me to get as close as I could to apply the maximum amount of pressure because the dirt and grime was pressed tightly into the cracks and had been there for a long time. That grime and dirt is a strong barrier to a clean surface. I thought to myself:
I.AM.THAT.PATIO 😳
#1. Some things I cling to are nothing but passing fancies. If I have to pass up the purchase of something I really like or go somewhere I really want to go or miss out on a friend gathering, while disappointing I can usually reason maybe next time.
#2. Then things begin to get a bit uncomfortable.....see God doesn't want a part of my heart. He wants it ALL. All is everything. He wants my time. My attention. My affection. My loyalty. He wants me to rid myself of everything.....hear it again....EVERYTHING ......that turns my heart from him. For he is a jealous God. He is jealous for anything that diverts my heart from him first. And can I say here...there are a lot of really good, worthwhile, well meaning things and circumstances and just like that tough dirt and grime, it takes pressure to extract that which shifts my focus.
#3. Now let's turn up the pressure....There are the things I clinch so tightly that maximum pressure is required to open my hands. If you have had your hands pried open, it is devastating.....it is gut-wrenching. It's so painful you literally want to die. Please hear me....you will never be prepared to have something or someone ripped from your existence. But, for me, there is a difference between being completely blindsided and knowing you are not exempt. I never thought it would happen to me because I simply could not survive it therefore it would not happen.....Naive? Nah, just ignorant. 🤦♀️ I realize now, I sold God so short.
Lastly, the patio is clean. Cleaner than it's been in the last 6 years. But make no mistake, without careful attention it WILL get dirty again. And like that patio, I too, will place "stuff" in my heart again and again in front of Jesus and I will be dirty....and in need of cleaning. It's a day to day often moment by moment, intentional "cleaning" that keeps out that which distracts my heart from its first love.
"One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."
Matthew 22:35-38
Above ALL else!
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:39-40
Interesting isn't it? My desires, wants, perceived needs....actually come AFTER I am "supposed" to have given ALL of my heart to the Lord and my love to others.
It certainly is not easy! It's a constant giving over of self. It's a continual act of picking up my cross. It's actually really hard and often painful. It's a continual honing into the likeness of Christ. But if you know Jesus you wouldnt want to be the likeness of anyone else. When I look to the Word of God and fill myself to overflowing with who he is, what he did for me and the promises given to me, it's all worth it......even enduring the really awful stuff of this world. HE is the power in my weakness. HE has set me on a firm foundation. HE has pulled me from the muck and mire. HE is the light in the valley. When the world changes daily he does not. He is the same today, tomorrow and forever. Why would I want my heart elsewhere?
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