Pack your bags, we're going on a guilt trip! Guilt. What a powerful motivator. It is behind so many of the things that look good to the naked eye, but if you could remove all of the flesh and bone and really look at what is on the inside, there it is. Tall, dark and not so handsome! As I further sought the Lord regarding the things that cause my to-do lists to be so joyless, and the whip in my hand to sting so sharply, He pulled back yet another layer to show me the ugly truth. If you asked me if I felt guilty about anything, I would say, 'no, of course not'. I certainly wouldn't admit to the notion that guilt was motivating my actions. And I would be wrong. Dead wrong.
Guilt is a chameleon. It changes colors, shape and form. It can look super-nice, super-responsible, super-efficient. But it's a joy killer! Personally, the guilt behind my to-do list goes something like this: "I should have accomplished more today. I should be doing ________ instead of ________. I shouldn't have spent so much time on ______. I should be a better wife, mother, sister, grandma. I should have started quicker, ended sooner, etc." And so it goes. And then I walk around under a heavy burden of should haves and ought to's that literally suck the joy right out of my day. Guilty as charged!
I am a practical, bottom line person, so when I go to the Lord about these things, I really expect some practical help. Oh sure, sometimes the revelation itself is enough to take care of the issue. But other times, we need a play by play. We need someone to give us permission to be! And so, here is the great revelation of the day. I have permission to have joy, all day long, whatever I am doing. I have permission to be guilt-free ( there is therefore now, NO condemnation in Christ)! I am the one who has been standing in the way. So how is that going to work itself out in my flesh? Therein lies the problem. I contend with my flesh and I will until the day I die. 2 Corinthians 5 was a fresh gift from the Lord today because it was talking about the bodies (tents) we are living in compared to the (heavenly) bodies we will one day have.
"For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal might be swallowed up by what is life" 2 Cor. 5:4
I can relate to the groaning and the burdens the flesh has to offer! And I do long for the life of God to be ever and always present in my spirit, soul, and body swallowing up all the yuck. The thing is, we are promised abundant life, and everything pertaining to life and godliness, the trick is accessing His provisions for each of us personally. And I am learning that there is no formula. All of His promises are Yes and Amen for each of us. But how He works them out in our lives, our individual needs, and what our unique day requires are so different! So for starters, today, in my area of need, I feel like He gave me some practical insight about letting go of my 'shoulds'. First of all, commit my time to Him, whatever it is I am doing at the moment, give it up, ask for His spirit of wisdom and revelation, His guidance, favor, blessing! Secondly, live in the moment...not in what I should or shouldn't do, what I need to do next etc...in other words, "be where you are". (This is a huge challenge for me, I have a tough time staying present, I always want to run ahead...I really need His help with this one). Thirdly, look at each part of my day as a chapter in a book. For example: The 1st chapter is spending time with Him. The 2nd is writing my blog. The 3rd is working in my workshop, etc. Each chapter gets a fresh commitment to Him and prayer for His perspective, energy, creativity, help, joy or whatever the need may be. I really felt that one was inspired because if I can see each part of my day as a chapter that has a beginning and an ending, I think it might help me stay present, focused and really devoted to what I am doing...and I am really counting on joy being the outcome! I can't wait to try this.
The old hymn, 'turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace' says it all! I guess this song is a simpler way to put what I just took several paragraphs to say. Turn your eyes upon Jesus is, after all, the bottom line...and I do love the bottom line!
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