Tag: Jesus

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 18   Removal of More Dirt

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

If my back yard could talk, this might be what it would say as I dig away in it again.

Wait! Why are you removing more of my dirt?  Wasn’t that big hole enough? Besides, it doesn’t feel good for you to dig and scrape away at me like you are doing. What was hidden under my top layer is now exposed and it makes me feel open and raw. Maybe you have a good reason to remove the dry, bare clay, although I haven’t given up trying to grow something in those areas. But why take away the rich, dark soil in other areas? That soil is so promising. It’s just a matter of time for those tiny green grass blades to grow and become a lush covering. And what about the grass you are removing with the dirt? You call them weeds, but they are just as green as the grass you value. I just don’t understand why you are doing this. Sure, I said the same thing last month when you dug that big hole. But I can now see how it serves a good purpose, providing a home for fish, frogs, and tadpoles. But I see no purpose in what you are doing here. It makes no sense to remove the dirt you are but leaving the rest. And in those narrow bands! Just look at how much I’m losing. It makes me sad to see tubs full of my dirt that you are taking away.

My answer would be:

I have a plan. I’m not taking away the dirt to make your life miserable. I’m not taking away your dirt randomly and thoughtlessly. I’m taking it away to make room for something new, something beautiful. Be patient. This takes time. Don’t focus on the tubs of dirt you are losing. Focus on all that you still have. And trust me. I know things that you do not. I will finish what I started and complete my purpose for this part of your yard. Actually it’s my yard, and you will not miss the removed dirt once you have the new things I’m putting in that space. You will understand one day and you will rejoice with me.

***

Have you ever wondered why things you loved, things that were a comfortable part of your life, were taken away? Why God would take them from you but not from others?

I’m not talking about things like losing a loved one through an accident or illness. I’m talking about things like reading gothic historical fiction books or participating in some church practices. Or like watching horror movies involving demons. Or like anything to do with dragons. Things you know He has made off limits to you but seems to have not forbidden them to anyone else that you know.

God always has a plan. And never is this plan about hurting us. His plan is always for good. Sometimes it’s to make us more like Jesus and to bring us closer to Him, or to make us more effective in the things He calls us to do. Other times His plan is not even about us but we are affected by it and He uses it for our good.

One day, years after giving my life to Jesus, I began to have a twitch in my heart every time I read one of my gothic historical romance books. Not sure what that was, I continued reading until the day it became clear that the twitch was the Holy Spirit gently telling me, “no”. Sadly, I packed up my numerous books and donated them to a thrift store.

Not long after that, I started getting the same twitch when watching horror movies with my husband, brother, and sister-in-law –something we enjoyed each time they came to visit. Not all horror movies, though. People fighting monsters was okay. But people attacking people was not. And anything with demons was a definite no. Yet, my family seemed to have no issue with any of  the movies.

Over the years, potential mentors, some church practices, compromises and half-truths joined the list. Either they were taken from me (friends moving away) or I had to take the steps to eliminate them myself. One of the hardest ones of all was my dragon collection. I loved dragon statues and dragon books. I had to give them all away.

The thing was, no one else I talked to was getting these same restrictions. All of the above was fine for them. Why weren’t they fine for me?  

Through years of prayer and research, I discovered that there were various reasons but most stemmed from a prayer I had prayed early in my Christian life. “Lord remove anything that comes between You and me, no matter how painful.”  He has honored that prayer. Quickly or slowly, He removed things that became more important than Him, things that caused me to compromise my integrity, things that tainted my faith in Him, and things that I trusted in rather than trusting in Him. Each time He removed something, He filled the space with something else, including a greater sense of His presence or knowledge of His character.

It has not been easy or fun, but it’s been worthwhile.

“Lord, continue to remove anything that comes between You and me, no matter how painful.”

***

PS. There is nothing sinful about dragons. They are beautiful and some of my favorite books are written about dragons. But the deeper I go with Jesus, the more committed I get to His Word, the more trouble I have enjoying anything that represents the enemy. Satan is seen as a dragon in the Bible and thus I can no longer have anything to do with them. Or at least that’s my guess on why I had to give away my whole collection of Dragonrider books.

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Revelation 12:9

Scriptures:

“Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.” Psalm 26:2-3

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For ass the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isiah 55:8-9

A Prayer for SIL, Day 94

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, hold SIL tonight as she sleeps. Rock her in Your arms and sing love songs over her.

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exalt over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, God, make SIL aware that You are with her, that You are a mighty One who saves. Let her feel Your gladness as You rejoice over her. Quiet the war within her by Your love. And enable her spirit to hear You as You sing over her with loud singing.

In Your Loving Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 91

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, fill SIL with Your Spirit as she sleeps. I know the Holy Spirit dwells in her, but I’m praying for a fresh outpouring, a renewing of the zeal she once had.

Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Cor 3:16

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel… and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God… Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?,,,The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts. Haggai 1:14; 2:3; 2:9

Lord, just as You stirred the people to restore Your temple in the Old Testament, I pray You stir SIL’s heart to restore Your temple, herself, to hold even greater zeal than her former years. And may You give her peace.

In Your Inviting Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 90

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, speak to SIL’s heart. Show her the truth. Take her hand and help her to walk in that truth. Don’t let her bury her head in the sand like she tends to do, but help her to confront her demons, the lies within her heart. Bring light into the darkness in her soul.

And I will lead the blind in a way they do not know, in paths they have not known. I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

Father God, lead SIL like You led Your people years ago. She is generally blind to spiritual matters and needs You to guide her in paths that are unfamiliar to her. Turn the darkness before, around, and in her into light, and smooth out the rough places. Do Your thing with SIL and assure her that You will not and have not forsaken her.

In Your Faithful Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 88

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, heal whatever is going on in SIL. This new habit she has is driving me away from her. I don’t know if she is doing it on purpose because it’s self-soothing, or subconsciously, but it’s very annoying. Like fingernails on a chalkboard, I can’t ignore it. Show me how to navigate this new obstacle. If it’s something she can control, show her the need to do so. In the meantime, she’s slipping back into her self-centered ways. Call her back, Lord. Put Your Word before her. Create a thirst for Scripture and Bible study in her heart strong enough to overcome her reluctance to read, or to write, or to join other women, or even to listen to teachings online.

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some. Hebrews 10:25a

Jesus, call her, convict her, motivate her, provide for her, and support her in meeting with other believers, other women, whether in person, online, or through audio. She needs the words and zeal of other believers to challenge her to look outside herself.

In your Soothing Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 85

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, SIL’s new behavior is so irritating. I don’t know if she’s aware when she’s doing it, whether it’s something she can’t control, or if she has found a way to intentionally irritate me. If it’s the latter, it’s probably subconscious. Or it may have nothing to do with me at all.

Walk in a way worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1b-3

Help me, Jesus, to walk worthy of the call concerning SIL to which You have called me. Help me to humbly and gently be patient with her. Help me to bear her new behavior, and help her to bear with my behavior, so that we can maintain the unity of Your Spirit in the bond of peace between us. I know You love her despite her irritations, just like You love me despite my irritations.

In Your Love,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 84

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, walk closely with SIL on this hard path. Open her heart little by little each day. Give her courage to confront the truth – and the lies – that dwell in her. Convict her when she lies or deflects so she will quit doing it. Focus her eyes on Your Word; speak to her as she ponders Your ways.

But the path of righteousness is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. Proverbs 4:18

I pray that her understanding of You and your ways will grow brighter and clearer each moment, and that the path of righteousness will be illuminated to her brighter and brighter until she has full knowledge of it. I pray that she then forsakes the path she has made for herself and chooses to walk the path of righteousness which You have set out for us.

In Your Enlightening Name,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 83

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, as SIL spends time with your people, may they share their hearts and faith with each other. May they each speak and hear truth, and be strong enough to accept the truth.

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Jesus, as they talk with each other, let Your Word dwell richly in their conversations, teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom. I doubt SIL will sing, but let spiritual songs bubble up from her spirit into her mind. Maybe she will consider the words with thankfulness to You. Bless every attempt she makes no matter how awkward.

Don’t be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:11

Fill her with Your Spirit, Your Truth, and Your zeal for our Father who is in heaven. May she serve You instead of herself.

In the Richness of Your Name,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 81

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, hold SIL close to You this night. Heal the wounds created long ago that impact her current behavior. As You open her heart, spread Your balm over the sore areas to soothe them and so that they will be truly healed.

Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of the daughter of my people? Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in SIL’s heart or mind? Is she unaware of You as her Great Physician? Or unaware of her need for You in this area? Is that why it seems her healing is coming so slowly? Jesus, in the Old Testament days, balm was a sticky sap-like residue from plants. To the prophets it represented healing, restoration, spiritual health, and divine intervention. In the New Testament days, I think this healing ointment would be Your Holy Spirit but I’m not sure.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Revelation 3:18

SIL appears to be as lukewarm as the church in Laodicea so this verse may apply to her as well as to the Laodiceans. I don’t know what You meant by buying the gold, white garments, and salve (which I assume is like balm) because You bought these for us, but I pray that You show SIL how to do so.  I pray that she would ask for and apply this spiritual balm to every part in her that hurts. Guide her to find those places.

In Your Care,

Amen

A Prayer for SIL, Day 78

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, I don’t know how You did it when You were here. How did You love people when they kept doing wrong things to You?  How do You do it even now? Do You see their – our – future with You, a future when all is made right? Is it about hope?

And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord”, for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest, declared the Lord. For I will remember their iniquity and I will remember their sin nor more.” Jeremiah 31:34

Lord, I can’t see into the future like You can. So I will place my hope in You. You know SIL – probably the only one who does – and You know her future. I pray that she makes wise choices so she will end up where You are leading her. Help me to give her the grace that You do, to forgive her like You do, and to love her like You do. Even when she hurts me, help me to love her like You love me when I hurt You.

In Your Forgiving Name,

Amen