God is all around. He is in all things, He is the maker of all things. Whatever we are, have, or can do is only because of Him. Sometimes it is easy to be so good at something, for us to be so natural at it that we often forget how we came to do the thing in the first place.
Lord, may I never forget it is all because of you.
Opportunities come, chances are there, every morning we get a fresh slate. I think a lot about how I am so thankful that He’s not up there keeping score. (His patience won’t last forever, there will be a day when the trumpet sounds)
We were driving down the road and I looked across (what any other time of the year would look like plain ole woods) anyway I looked at it and peeking through the bare trees was a house that I never knew existed. “How adorable.” I thought. How is it that I have been driving this same road for 10 + year and I never noticed that. It didn’t just magically appear: it has been there for no telling how long.
Normally the trees are full and lush. Now they are bare. All that foliage has been striped away to reveal things not normally seen. They look so empty. But the empty is necessary.
Our lives are like that too you know.
Full. But yet EMPTY and we don’t even realize it until a tragedy Our lives are Full of…
Social Media ( Keeping up with everyone else, and for what?)
Entertainment ( sitting down watching someone else live a fake life on T.V)
Tasks
Shopping
work work work
Driving kids to and from the latest activity they’ve been signed up for ( I agree while it’s good to keep them into something good it’s also easy for them to get priorities mixed up)
Taking care of that big house we had to have
Commitments that we never should have agreed to
The Lord was really talking to me in this moment. I knew it because it was such a powerful revelation and also because earlier this morning while getting ready for church I happened upon a video speaking about this very thing. About how we are so busy maybe busy doing all the right things but we are too busy to enjoy and see the Lord and the people He has entrusted us with.
I have been guilty of being entirely to busy doing all the wrong things. After I have finished said tasks there is little time or energy leftover for what matters most.
So you see, we have always associated bareness with lack. Today I see bareness in a hole new light. I see it in having time to see and know what matters.
How many times have I passed over and neglected the important things because my life was so full.
Normally the Message version isn’t my go to. However I love how this is written.
Proverbs 13:7
“A pretentious, showy life is an empty life: a plain and simple life is a full life.”
Pretentious means attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc… than is actually possessed.
What if a bare life was really a full life?
What if we got alone with God, totally surrendered and ask Him to forgive us of our business? Forgive us for trying to know best. And ask Him to reveal to us what needs to go, What do I need to let go of or add? Ask Him to shake us down like a mighty tree on a cold November day. Shake off what isn’t needed so I can make way for what is.
New blooms can’t come in the spring if the old, dead leaves are hanging on.
Growth in God’s will and plan can’t take root if we are busy with everything other than what He intended for our lives.
I love this verse so much, our Pastor actually spoke on it today. God is really working on me today. This post is if nothing else a message for myself to strip down to the bare necessities.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
A bare life will mean more time for love, family, friends, stewarding the things we need well. Studying HIs word more. Deep meaning prayer times that render the enemy inafective in our lives. Having time to help someone in need rather than fullfilling our needs. Being more hands on with our kids, modeling for them that life is precious and love is what matters. When we are bogged down we are stressed and irrritable. Any favors for others come at inconvientent times of tiredness and teach our kids that we really don’t have time. That joy in serving others is a burden rather than an honor.
Lord Jesus, please clear my mind. Empty my life of the chaso. Show me what is not necessary in my life. Reveal to me what needs to go so that I can carry out your good, pleasing and perfect will. Forgive me for being busy and patterning that same hustle and bustle for my kids. Redeem our lifestyle and habits by revealing truth to us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Sharing my life's adventure one word at a time 