Scripture Reading: Genesis 41:1-36
To the natural eye, I was doing everything right.
I was…
Going to all the services held at my home church.
Visiting other church services.
Actively serving in ministry.
Ministering to people as the Spirit led.
etc.
My devotion and prayer life were good, my Bible studying was on point, but all in all, there was still something missing, there was something I wasn’t doing. I was as ‘spiritually’ submitted as you could find them, but I was NOT ‘physically’ submitted. I was obedient to God and my spiritual leaders concerning the spiritual things in the Kingdom, but I was being disobedient to Holy Spirit’s leading, through what I call a ‘physical rebellion‘.
I was set in my ways; I was comfortable; I wanted some things to remain as they were. I liked and still like being comfortable; I mean, who doesn’t? A few days ago, as I listened to a sermon on YouTube, the Pastor said, “God didn’t call us to be comfortable, He didn’t preserve us to live that cushy life. Instead, He called us to step out of our comfort zone for the purpose(s) of His Kingdom.”
I don’t consider myself to be a ‘fancy’ or ‘fussy’ lady, so I placed very little emphasis on looking ‘girlie’ (hair, make-up, accessories, frilled tops, etc.). It was this area of my life, that I hadn’t submitted to God, this very physical aspect. Please understand me, I am extremely results oriented, and being ‘girlie’ was not required in the ‘world’ I grew up in to achieve results. This was an area of my life which also required submission and renewal in Christ.
Romans 12:2
NIV: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s
will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
NLT: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God
transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you
will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
After ‘rebelling’ (ignoring promptings from the Holy Spirit) for many years, because I didn’t see it as a requirement, I very slowly started to give being ‘girlie’ some small considerations. The more I considered it, that ‘2nd voice’ would come and ‘reason’ with me, on results being the important factor & not outward appearances. God begun to use my Pastors to minister on dressing for where you’re going and NOT where you are (Esther 2:31). That resonated with me, and I mustered up the courage and begun to swap out things in my wardrobe. That was as far as I would go; I had my ‘other’ clothes as my ‘backup plan’. To get to a place of total submission to God, we have to get rid of our ‘backup plan’.
Acts 27:32
NIV: So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
NLT: So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.
Prayer: Dear God, I acknowledge you as Lord over my life and I exalt you above everything and everyone in my life. Daily I ask for your forgiveness for sins committed knowingly and unknowingly, in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ. I thank You for loving me even when my actions towards You were not that of love. I am thankful that You are a compassionate and patient God, Who is slow to anger. Lord, I ask that You continue to work on my heart, as I continue to run this race called life, that You have called me to. Your praises will forever be on my lips, I worship you with all that I am, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Originally written December 30, 2018.