Would You Get Out of the Way?

Would you get out of the way?  This question sounds so rude, but it can be freeing to complete the request. What if we moved our selfish pride, fears, and ‘stuff’ out of the way between us and God? Would we be able to see more clearly and breathe better?

"Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." (I Cor. 13:12 NLT)

Being that I am due to deliver a baby any day, my sisters came to help me complete the many tasks still on my list. My list quickly became obsolete, when these outsiders to my home invaded. They were on a mission of love to see my home run more smoothly, beautifully, and devoid of clutter and excess ‘stuff’ in every room. The task seemed overwhelming to me, but I wanted to help them paint, move furniture, and clean. One sister kept saying, “I love you, but would you get out of the way?” I had given them permission to come in and move out what should not be there, but I was stalling the process by questioning and sifting through every item. It was time to do a deep clean, and there wasn’t room for emotional attachment to stuff. One room went from toys all over the floor, chipped paint and dust bunnies galore to a beautiful color, reminding me of Hawaiian waters, with only sweet and simple decorations. What a pleasant change!

When we ask the Holy Spirit to come in and clean out our ‘stuff’ in our hearts and minds, we must, too, move out of the way. Our prayer, “Holy Spirit, I give you permission to minister to me and create in me a clean heart” is one of true surrender. However, we often find ourselves telling the Spirit of God not to touch or remove certain areas. Sometimes we are slowing the process by asking why. What if we simply gave permission and moved out of the way, allowing the work to happen?

Our own stuff can have such meaning to us. Much of our physical belongings and emotional hang-ups have memories attached to them. It is time for cleansing, simplification, and freedom. Who will ‘get out the way’ with me today? When we have allowed the Holy Spirit to do His work, maybe the result will be far greater than our expectations can imagine.

Under Construction

While contemplating big change in my home, including cleaning out closets, reorganizing cabinets, painting marked walls, and adding new lighting, I began to think about our hearts and Psalm 51. 

"Generous in love—God, give grace!  Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt... You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all... What you’re after is truth from the inside out... Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.  Soak me...and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.  Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing... God make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life."

I had been feeling guilty about how I had let the dust bunnies pile up, papers get mixed with toys or dishes, overall need for upgrade in appearance and habits of use in my home.  But God is not a condemning God.  He is BIG, but he does not pound us with our shortcomings like the enemy does. Our Father loves us as dear children, holds our hand, guides us, and longs to walk, talk, and laugh with us.  He is there to show us the flowers in their intricate detail, to draw our attention to the birds singing, to sit and watch the sun rise with us.  He is love. 

This walk is one of surrender of heart and birth of joy. There is a scene in the movie Titanic that comes to mind.  The main female character had spent her life hovered over and made to walk in every rule of society...legalism, legalism, right down to shoes and tall collars.  She had felt trapped and did not realize it until she was desperate to escape it all.  Instead, she found herself dancing to Irish jigs in the lower decks of the ship, shoes off and hair down.  When she forgot about all of man's rules and listened to the music of her heart, she was able to feel free and dance.  This may be a stretch for some to imagine, but what if we moved in greater freedom?  What if the sound of the music was louder than our own condemning heart?

"Don’t ...fail to breathe holiness in me... put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home... I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways...  Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise. "

Then we would be free; walk in freedom to what He has called us to do.  The louder voice of our heart would be His, and we would want to shout it from the rooftops.  Instead of a hammer of condemnation on our heads and a tight, guilty heart, we would be wearing the crown of righteousness on our heads and a smile of joy on our faces.

"Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice."

God is watching and adoring us, in all our humanness.  He created us.  We are His workmanship, created to do good works.  The smell of our surrender is sweet smelling in His nostrils.

"...all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!"  (Psalm 51 MSG)

I will heave guilt, condemnation, and lies regarding self-worth on the altar today.  Take a moment.  What burning on the altar is He asking?  What would make your load lighter and put joy in your heart and His today?