As I mentioned in this post, I went to Bible study last week with some questions. Most of them were not only addressed, but clearly answered in the video. (Beth Moore Breaking Free.) One thing I was still mulling over though: She had said that freedom relies on our obedience to God. My question was what exactly IS obedience to God?
I know you're probably thinking "um, Melanie? This is Christianity 101!" Well, maybe. Probably even. I've been a Christian for a long time though, and just couldn't put my finger on exactly WHAT obedience looks like. It HAS to be more than just filling in my checklist of things Christians are supposed to do and thinking I'm good. I desperately want more than "do this, don't do that" because trust me, I can do that with no heart involvement at all.
I think I get so bogged down in the do's and don'ts and can do it without heart involvement at all, because ... let's face it ... sometimes it seems easier. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's painful to get down to the nitty-gritty. Laziness kicks in, or the thought that it would be tough to get through this hurt, better to just whip out a band-aid and hold up my checklist.
However, because I *KNOW* that He wants more for me than that, let's add a whole list of do's and don'ts because even if my heart isn't always in it, I'm still a good person. You can look at my checklist and see that. Right?
Then.
But God.
The question was answered:
To live victoriously, ever day we must learn to pour out our hearts to God, confess sin daily, acknowledge every hollow place, and invite Him to fill us fully! Then we need to continue to fan the flame of His love by reading Scripture, listening to edifying music, and praying often. We also need to avoid things that obviously quench His Spirit. Beloved, when you make a daily practice of inviting His love to fill your hollow places and make sure you are not hindering the process, God will begin to satisfy you more than a double cheeseburger!From Breaking Free by Beth Moore
That's it. I have felt Him tell me that I've been making it way more complicated than it is. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. All of those other things that have weighed me down? I've piled them up there myself. That's not to say that they're bad things, they're not at all. It's just so freeing to realize the pressures I put on myself are just that - pressure I put on myself. God hasn't put that pressure on me. He just wants me to love Him, receive love from Him, and be obedient to Him.
Free indeed. Still a work in progress, still mulling it all over, but FREE.
3 comments:
Melanie! This spoke straight to my heart today. I so struggle with the "to do for God" list. If I miss one thing on it, I feel like a big failure and like I can't even talk to Him anymore. Thank you for admitting that you don't know all the answers. I am sooooo right there. We should talk!
That is some good stuff my friend! AMEN...and thanks for posting this. It speaks to me,too. I ask those exact same questions. I actually think its a sign of maturity to ask it...rather than a sign of lacking something as an older christian...we should ALL ask those questions more often!!
I actually have the book she wrote on "Breaking Free", so I think I may get to reading it soon... well, after I read Moriah's next literature. And Bethany's next literature... Um. You can see why I haven't read it yet. When I do get time...I know I'll really get a lot out of the book.
FREE is good indeed, dearest friend. See, there ARE wonderful things after forty!
Breathe Him in. He is here.
I like what Beth said "let Him fill in the hollow places". :) sigh... very well said. Thanks for sharing that.
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