The Right Path or String Dancing?

I stepped out of the bathroom this morning and to my surprise saw a tiny string going in both directions: into Larry's study and around the corner into the kitchen. (To be honest, with four cats, nothing really comes as a surprise! =^..^=)

I followed the string into the kitchen and had to laugh. There was a maze of string under the table and around the chair legs...a spider would have been proud! The "string dance" (not to be confused with String Theory!)appears to have originated in the living room. It then proceeded into the kitchen with much flourish under and around the table (I do not recall dancing having occurred there before - my cooking must be lacking! Ha!Ha!). The dance continued across the kitchen, around the corner, down the hall and concluded in the study. Our little Isabel turned one this week and I suspect the little stinker helped herself to a small ball of floss I had sitting on my needlework table. It was the purrfect size for a kitty or kitties as I'm sure her brothers joined in! Let the dance begin!

This reminded me of how we so often take what we think is the right path only to discover down the road a piece that it was not. The kitties eventually ran out of string and were left with a mess. The dance was over.

Do we remember to seek God before heading down a path? Or do we think He will support our decision, no matter what it is? (Arrogant, yes, but let's be honest, we've all done it.)

A friend recently shared the challenge of caring for her elderly mother. The daily grind of sharing a home and tending to her mother's needs was taking a toll on her. She had lost her joy along the way. One day, as she was crying out to God, she heard His still, small voice inquiring, "Did you ask me what I wanted?" Gulp! She had to admit she hadn't asked Him. Yes, her mother's care was important but perhaps it was not for her to do. She is now seeking His will in regards to her mother and she has far greater peace. Her joy is coming back, too. Hallelujah!

Only God knows what His plans and purposes are for each of our lives. Only He knows the timing. Only He knows what is the right path we should follow. Wisdom would be to ask Him and follow His lead, right?

I have to admit I've spent too much of my life following what looked like the right path to me only to discover it brought heartache or discouragement or confusion or, worse yet, distance from God. Just like my kitties, I can get excited about what something looks like and follow it. If I were to look at all the wrong paths I have taken, it would look a lot like that maze of string our kitties created as they chased that little ball of floss. I've done my share of string dancing!

I am so grateful for God's grace. He can take our messes and use them to His glory. I have to remember it is not about my past, it's about today and all the days that follow. I choose Him! I choose to seek His face. I choose to seek His wisdom. I choose to ask Him before I head down a path. I choose to use the discernment He has placed within me through His Holy Spirit. Yes, there will be dancing minus the string to tangle me up!

There is clarity is simplicity. We humans try to make things so hard - and we accomplish it quite successfully! It really is quite simple. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ESV

It's not my life! It's His! Pretty simple when you look at it like that, huh? Simple but not necessarily easy. You see, I choose to die to my flesh,"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Acts 4:22-24 ESV

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21 ESV Dying to self is not a one-time thing. It is daily or hourly or even minute-by-minute. I pray I recognize those times when I am living through my flesh and not my spirit (where the Holy Spirit resides). In the recognition, change can and will occur by God's grace. No more string dancing for me.

Thank you, Lord! With Your guidance, Your wisdom, Your revelation, Your knowledge, Your strength, and Your perseverance, I can run the race set before me. You know the right path....

Obedience

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the things God has called you to? Do you feel inadequate and completely unprepared for the very things that you know He created you to fulfill? Trust me, you are not alone!

He built us to draw on His strength, His wisdom and His knowledge so He can work through us. How many times have we done things in our own strength, our own timing, our own wisdom only to find ourselves with one heck of a mess in the end? A mess we usually turn to God, crying "Help!"

I've realized how arrogant I've been. God has all the knowledge, all the resources and all wisdom. He's proven His trustworthiness. When I meditate on that, everything comes into proper perspective. I'm brought to my knees in repentance. It is wonderful to be loved so completely, to have my foolishness forgiven...again.

God is teaching me to wait on Him and His timing. Nothing like crucifying my flesh! I can practically smell it! It's seems so unnatural to wait. My soul (my mind, will and emotions) doesn't like to wait. My spirit - where the Holy Spirit resides - insists on my being in synch with God.

In my lifetime, I have learned I cannot trust my emotions. They are real to me, based on my perspective and experiences. But they can be distorted by stinkin' thinkin', the enemy's influence, old tapes that run through my head, and my desires.

I can also be as willful as a child at times. God knows I've thrown a few tantrums with Him. I've often wondered if He finds it slightly amusing or just downright sad. Pathetic anyway. He's always right, always faithful, always trustworthy.

My goal is to get to the place where my spirit consistently rules my soul. Living with my spirit in the driver's seat, I will rely on the Lord at all times and in all things. I won't question doing what He is calling me to do. I won't question His timing. I won't fear the unknown. I will trust and obey (funny, now I have an old hymn running through my head!). All my confidence will be in Him. All my desires will be His desires. All that I will say and do will be for and about Him.

He has given us the best foundation: the Holy Bible, His Word. I intend to live it not just pay it lip service. Now is the time!