I used a rubberband to hold a drying rack toghether today. I didn't think much of it then, but as I logged on here tonight I got to thinking about the title of my blog and why I choose it. (I started with that title because I wanted to periodically blog about how we are all different and serve different purposes while here on earth.) It hit me in a different light tonight.
Rubberbands gets stretched and stretched and stretched some more. In fact, if you do not stretch a rubberband for some time, they loose their flexability and can break when you finally try. I use to see my life as a rubberband. God stretching me, and stretching me some more so that I wouldn't loose my flexability and break. One of my main supports: God will not give you more than you can handle.
However, I don't agree with that anymore. God has called us to be broken. Why? So we can depend on Him. If we can handle a situation with our strength, then on our strength we will handle it. If we can solve a problem with our knowledge, then with our knowledge we will solve it. If we can love someone with our own love, then we will only use our love. God desires for us to use His strength, His knowledge, His love, etc. Concluding then that if the only way we will use His resources is by taking away ours, He will then break us in order for this to happen.
I think where this gets scary for me is that I associate brokeness with death. Death doesn't ring the most upbeat bell and I would rather not experience it. But we are suppose to experience it! It is the one experience I think the Lord wants us to have... and the earlier the better. The earlier we realize that it is Him not us, He can do greater things. He won't have to rework the destruction that our flesh makes. Things would be done right the first time if we only let Him and let ourselves die. (I feel like I need to note that the death I am speaking of is a human will death, not a physical death.)
I'm then left with the question of what needs to die? I know my that the general answer is my will, but what all does that include? and what goes in it's place?
*what needs to die ** what goes in it's place
*the right to having MY freedom ** God's grace
*the right to giving MY answers ** God's knowledge
*the desire to live by the law - read the Bible at least 30 min. a day, pray for 1 hour a day, attend church everytime the doors are open, serve in some kind of church committee, spend at least 7 hours of my week with unbelievers, tithe to the church, repent every day that the following list doesn't get accomplshed. ** the desire to live by grace - letting Jesus live through me in everyday activities everyday of my life and knowing that He loves me the same even when my flesh steps in the way. Spending time with Him either through His word or prayer because I long to know Him more not because it has become a requirement. Thinking of myself as a child of God instead of a sinner that has found the right answer.
(By the way, the list of things that are under living by the law are not bad things. I encourage them. However, as I have posted in the past, if we let those things begin to dictate our day/week instead of allowing God to have a say, then it can easily become a false king in the disguise as a good deed.)
*the right to MY time schedule ** God's plan
*the right to MY good health, money, a steady job ** God's plan, provision
*the right to not be defeated ** God's strength
*the right to only be stretched ** God's desires
*the right to try myself ** God being in complete control
These are only a few things, but the ones that came to my heart as I searched.
I want to be broken not just stretched.
Rubberbands gets stretched and stretched and stretched some more. In fact, if you do not stretch a rubberband for some time, they loose their flexability and can break when you finally try. I use to see my life as a rubberband. God stretching me, and stretching me some more so that I wouldn't loose my flexability and break. One of my main supports: God will not give you more than you can handle.
However, I don't agree with that anymore. God has called us to be broken. Why? So we can depend on Him. If we can handle a situation with our strength, then on our strength we will handle it. If we can solve a problem with our knowledge, then with our knowledge we will solve it. If we can love someone with our own love, then we will only use our love. God desires for us to use His strength, His knowledge, His love, etc. Concluding then that if the only way we will use His resources is by taking away ours, He will then break us in order for this to happen.
I think where this gets scary for me is that I associate brokeness with death. Death doesn't ring the most upbeat bell and I would rather not experience it. But we are suppose to experience it! It is the one experience I think the Lord wants us to have... and the earlier the better. The earlier we realize that it is Him not us, He can do greater things. He won't have to rework the destruction that our flesh makes. Things would be done right the first time if we only let Him and let ourselves die. (I feel like I need to note that the death I am speaking of is a human will death, not a physical death.)
I'm then left with the question of what needs to die? I know my that the general answer is my will, but what all does that include? and what goes in it's place?
*what needs to die ** what goes in it's place
*the right to having MY freedom ** God's grace
*the right to giving MY answers ** God's knowledge
*the desire to live by the law - read the Bible at least 30 min. a day, pray for 1 hour a day, attend church everytime the doors are open, serve in some kind of church committee, spend at least 7 hours of my week with unbelievers, tithe to the church, repent every day that the following list doesn't get accomplshed. ** the desire to live by grace - letting Jesus live through me in everyday activities everyday of my life and knowing that He loves me the same even when my flesh steps in the way. Spending time with Him either through His word or prayer because I long to know Him more not because it has become a requirement. Thinking of myself as a child of God instead of a sinner that has found the right answer.
(By the way, the list of things that are under living by the law are not bad things. I encourage them. However, as I have posted in the past, if we let those things begin to dictate our day/week instead of allowing God to have a say, then it can easily become a false king in the disguise as a good deed.)
*the right to MY time schedule ** God's plan
*the right to MY good health, money, a steady job ** God's plan, provision
*the right to not be defeated ** God's strength
*the right to only be stretched ** God's desires
*the right to try myself ** God being in complete control
These are only a few things, but the ones that came to my heart as I searched.
I want to be broken not just stretched.
posted by Erica at 8:22 PM
1 Comments:
The wisdom and maturity that have grown in you are fun to watch.
It is very life giving and fulfilling to realize that what we do "for God" comes out of our willing hearts and not a sense of "have to"! Look at the joy you had in giving the dinner for Amanda!
Balance: discipline and disciplines! you can have both - the God life you are describing and the relationship that grows with Him as we give up stuff we want and focus on the stuff He wants!
Good insights. Love Ma B
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