Putting God in a Box

When there are so many obstacles in life, that almost seem purposed to take take you off course – focus, focus. Easier said than done – I know. In fact, as I lay in bed, I am met with many questions: Am I in the right place? Did I say the right words? Am I pouring into a broken pot? Do I leave? Where do I go? Do they see Christ in me? Is Christ in me? Am I doing all that I can? Am I doing that which I am called?

I woke up with this song in my head: “It’s hard to count it all joy/ Distracted by the noise/ Just trying to make sense of all Your promises/ Sometimes I gotta stop/ Remember that You’re God, and I am not, so/ Thy will be done/ Thy will be done/ Thy will be done/ Thy will be done…”

Putting God in a box… How often do I place God in a box of what He can do, can’t do? “Sure, God, you can put Your hand on this part of my life, but don’t even think about touching that part.” Oh yes! I believe God heals (others), but not me.

Yeah, I put God in a cute little box, tie a nice ribbon around it, and leave it in my heart, because I love Him. But that is not at all how it should be! Because when I am consumed with life happening to me, around me – I become overwhelmed. That is not the life He intended.

Yesterday, I was driving to work, allowing the most ludicrous thoughts to fill my head and worry me. I mean they consumed me! Now mind you, I had a wonderful, much needed, restful night, had a song in my head, smile on my face – when suddenly! I was bombarded with these ridiculous thoughts, designed to cause worry, and slowly suck away my joy.

But God! The Romancer of my heart, gave me laughter for my soul. I am a bit embarrassed to share, but I will, maybe you will get a good laugh, if only at my expense (and that’s okay). Any way, there I was driving, tears slipping out (not an all out boo-hoo session, but a few, you know). I see this plant this waving, only there really is no wind, I look up high at the other trees, they are not swaying in the breeze – if the are it is imperceptible. The way this roadside plant/ baby tree is (not) pruned I try to figure out, “Is that a person dressed as a plant – in like a costume? Why is he dressed as a plant, this is a back road with Industrial Plants, what is going on?” The closer I get, I realize, it is merely an unpruned road side plant/ baby tree. In fact, they are lining the roadway, waving, if you will at the cars as we drive by. I could do nothing but laugh! I’m not blind – blind. I even travel this road daily. How did I not see these before yesterday?

Unwrapping the box… James 2:18-24 (KJV) “¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

He knows what I have need of each and every second of each and every day. As I begin to unwrap the box in which I packed my Lord, He is beginning to move in ways I cannot explain. The thing I have come to realize is I must take that step, I must put my faith into action. I know what God has told me. I know He has a plan. Although I may not know the fulness of that plan, He has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” And, what is my part? I must trust the process. I must endure to the end. I still do not fully know how this will look, however I believe as I believe, have faith, obey, and operate in His will, well, surely I cannot go wrong.

My challenge for myself is to FOCUS. There is no need to hurry. I can chill. I can stop and listen for His voice. Directing me. All answers are in Him. I have only to stop.

My challenge for myself is to release God from that box in which I placed Him. He is too GREAT, too strong, too mighty, to ever be placed in a box. There is nothing that He cannot do! The omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God, who healed the sick, made blind eyes see, opened deaf ears – is opening my blind eyes. As He is romancing me, He is healing me. Well, the healing is done, I have only to accept it, walk in it, and stop holding onto that which I need to let go. My eyes have been healed, I have only to open them and see, really see.

In a finger peel, you start with the pinkies, and being to pry or peel them apart. That thing that I have been holding onto to – that has now become my stumbling block, I have found my pinkies and am beginning to peel. It is time to release God’s power fully on that thing. As I know He is telling me to forgive to love. Where I thought I had forgiven, I neglected to love. 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”