It’s hard to imagine that two weeks have already gone by. We’ve been on this weight loss challenge together, and it feels good to travel this road with friends. I feel a little lighter as a result of the work I’ve been focusing on lately. I hope you feel the same.
When I issued this challenge to all of you, it was because I needed to surrender every little thing to God that I’ve been holding onto for safe keeping. I admit that I gladly give him all the big stuff, but the little things are the ones I’ve convinced myself that I can handle on my own.
I gave a talk a few weeks ago to a group of ladies in ministry, and I reminded them to get prepared for the wash. It’s important to take everything out of your pockets before throwing your clothes into the washer. If you leave anything in your pockets, it’ll end up in the wash, and things will get messy — requiring that you either wash everything again or live with the mess.
We routinely pull everything from the two deep pockets in front and the back pockets as well, but we tend to forget that tiny fifth pocket on the left. You know the one — the one where you put spare change, a piece of candy, a hair tie, or your chapstick. This reminds me that I have to surrender every little thing to God if I truly want him to do a deep cleaning in my life. The same goes for you. What are the little things that you’re holding onto that threaten to make a mess when God starts the wash cycle? Share those in the comments. I’d love to pray for you today. May blessings abound! <3
Click here to continue to Day 16 – Stains.
My little things are:
time management and perception, oh and self worth
I must remember to let God into these areas of my life.
Did you find a scripture that speaks to who God says you are?
Father God, thank you for waking Tiff up this morning and allowing her a few minutes to spend with you. Thank you for revealing to her exactly what she needs to surrender. Lord, I ask that you give her YOUR eyes for just a second so that she may see herself as you do — fearfully and wonderfully made, beautiful, redeemed, an heiress to your throne, forgiven, whole. As she continues to draw near to you, Lord I ask that you allow her to feel your closeness in the name of Jesus! May your hedge of protection be visible to her as she enters dark places or even your house should Satan try to tempt her. She loves you dearly and is desperate for you, Father. Shroud her in your love and presence today and fit her feet for righteousness all the days of her life. Amen.
Oh Michelle… there IS a “little thing” that perhaps, if left unchecked, can/will ruin my “wash”…
I have unearthed some entitlement issues as a result of participating in a 21-day financial fast which happens to be running concurrently to this wonderful fasting/journey. These are the thoughts and hidden motivations which communicate “I (don’t) deserve THIS!” If I do not slow down long enough to identify these notions, some of which have been hidden deep within the recesses of my heart since childhood, then I’ll certainly not have experienced the healing and deliverance that my Father has already purchased for me.
This is the prayer that I will seek to pray and meditate on more often than I already do:
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
… and I certainly will/do covet the prayers of the righteous. Thanks for listening, Michelle.
Amen!
I need to surrender my regrets and grief over things I couldn’t control but still somehow feel guilty about. That probably doesn’t make a great deal of sense. I have a little bit of sadness that is always with me in that little pocket.