It’s true, y’all. The lies — all the lies — are killing us. Not political lies — though those may physically get us dead. I’m talking about the lies about God and life and humans and love and ‘erthing.

The Wrestling

I’ve been in a wrestling match with the Lord. Or maybe it’s been a wrestling match with myself before the Lord. Or maybe a wrestling match with lies. Whatever. There’s been wrestling going on. Mainly because Carlos Whittaker’s book has me all digging into my past and uncovering lies that steal life from me. The nerve of him. Actually his book is more like an exclamation mark at the end of a looooonnnnng sentence that I’ve been slowly speaking for about two years now. A long, run-on sentence with lots of grammatical errors.

I’m not sure if you were around these parts a couple years ago when I turned 40 and jumped out of an airplane. (You can hear/see more about it here and here and here.) That became known to me, myself, and I as my freedom jump — an ushering in of greater freedom to my soul. But the truth is, since then, I’ve still struggled with some specific chains that have had me bound. I like saying chains rather than idols because it seems more palatable. But let’s be honest.

The Lies

The chains — the lies — that have had me bound can be summed up in two words: man’s approval. And y’all, I’m sick of it. Sick and tired. I can look all the way back to my little girl years and see traces. From such a young age I bought into the lie that says God’s approval isn’t sufficient and man’s approval will satisfy. And those complete lies birthed fear and insecurity that slowly grew to be a part of me — a part of me that I didn’t even know I could be released from. Like another appendage or something. An ugly appendage with fangs and bad breath. But here’s the thing: Man’s approval cannot satisfy and God’s approval cannot be earned!

Man’s approval cannot satisfy.
God’s approval cannot be earned.

In clamoring and fearfully speaking/not speaking so as not to ruffle feathers or cause waves, I’ve been slowly strangled by the lies. I’ve savored the approval of humans more than the love of my Maker, denying His all-sufficiency. I’ve done it nicely. I’ve done it Christian-y. I’ve done it Pharisee-ically. But I’ve done it. And I’m repenting. Because God is too good, too glorious, too beautiful, too satisfying to lose my gaze.

“In Jesus Christ — in a solid, God-chosen relationship with Jesus —
man’s disapproval cannot hurt you.
And man’s approval cannot satisfy you.
To fear the one and crave the other is sheer folly.”
John Piper

The Solution

When we see that our hearts have roots that go deep into the soil of a lie, there’s only one way out: The Lord. We humble ourselves and repent to Him. We cling to Him. We gaze at Him. And we declare our complete insufficiency in ourselves to set ourselves free. We need His Spirit to do an uprooting in our deepest parts. We need because He truly is the One we crave. We need because freedom from a good God awaits.

Once we repent, we have to replace the lie with truth. We reject the lie and then replace it with what God says. We replace it out-loud and every time the lie creeps in.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32

Truth that Destroys the Lie

As I’ve been walking through my own process of greater freedom in the Lord, Carlos’ book prompted me to trace the face of God. To stare at the face of God. To see God for who He is. To see myself through His eyes of grace. And as I prayerfully stared at His sweet face, this is what I saw:

Your face, Lord.
Your eyes are kind and compassionate, not distractedly looking around, rather tenderly and genuinely focused on me, Your child.
Your jaw is strong and powerful, but not tense in anger, just ready to defend.
Your mouth curves in a small smile as you watch me, Your daughter, be me, making the lines around your eyes show — wisdom that defines You to the core.
Your nose breathes in and out — slow and steady — life flowing from and through You alone, giving breath to all there is.
You are so different from me — so other-than — yet I see glimmers of myself in Your face.
You are my daddy, and You aren’t angry with me. You love me kindly and truly.

God isn’t mad at His children. All His wrath was placed on His Son. If we truly believe that Jesus took the punishment on the cross that we as humans deserve, we have the Father’s full approval. Yes, we mess up. Yes, we disobey at times. Yes, we look to things and people to bring the satisfaction He alone can give. But He’s not an impatient father fed up with His ridiculous kids. He’s kind and faithful. And the mercy and grace of the cross is that in Christ God sees us as righteous — a scandalous exchange has occurred.

His kindness doesn’t give us license to walk a foolish life. His kindness leads His children to repentance, to worship, to obedience, to freedom. Because He is life. In Him is fullness of life.

So that’s where I’m at these days. Wrestling. Repenting. Believing. Awed by the mercy of my Maker — my Father — who gathers His children in with compassion and heals with His everlasting love.

Fill me, Lord…

(In true Southern style) how are you doing these days?
Reading any good, life-shifting books?
Being stripped of lies that have had you chained? Maybe it’s just me.

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I talk a lot about locking myself in the laundry room to gain perspective with a quick preachin’ to my soul. Or about how I truly believe that God has forsaken Wal-mart because my children often lose their minds when we enter its doors, and so then I have to preach truth to myself in the middle of the cereal aisle.

All this preachin’ and talking and steering my heart is because I’ve got lots of feelings. And depending on the depth of tragedy or time of the month, I’ve got feelings about those feelings and about your feelings and the Wal-mart checkout lady’s feelings. Lots of feelings.

And God isn’t threatened, surprised, horrified, or shaken by any of them.

It seems like we as Christians feel pressure to put on some cheesy, stoic grin while saying, “God is good!” even when our worlds crumble in our hands like…burnt bacon. Or something. And He is. God truly is good ALL the time.

But He gave us feelings. He designed us to feel. God created us to feel sad when death marks our path. Or happy when we reunite with a long lost friend. Feelings are from Him and He’s tender to our emotion.

But feelings are a thermometer rather than a compass. They tell us what’s going on inside of us. They reveal our response to life situations. But often times, following where they lead can put us on a pretty destructive road.

I might feel like I want to hurt someone who hurts me. It feels right. And justified. But following those feelings could quite possibly land me on the cover of our town’s newspaper, “Lady snaps. People flee for their lives.”

We can’t always follow after or stand upon our feelings because they’re slippery and volatile. They move with the wind. They can change in a millisecond. That’s why we’re much better off when we take our emotions to God rather than violently purging them onto all the people in our paths.

God wants to be our landing place. He wants to be the One we run to with our messy hearts (even in Wal-mart). He waits for us to come to Him over and over and over again with our emotion. And He doesn’t tell us in frustration to “dry it up!” or “get over this already!” He’s tender to our feelings because He understands us better than we understand ourselves.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways…
Psalm 139:1-3

We as Christians are not called to stoicism. We’re called to realism. Life can be stinkin’ hard. And it’s OK to feeeeeel stuff about the hard things. We’re supposed to feel stuff about the hard things of life. But He desires for us to come to Him with all that emotion. He wants us to cry out to Him in all our messiness because He’s the only One who can truly tend to the crevices of our hearts.

He’s the only One who can minister peace to us in the chaos of life or joy in the devastations.

So feel, yes. But take those feelings to Him. If the feelings are off the charts, grab a friend’s hand and ask her to go with you to God’s throne. But regardless of how we get there, He waits to be our place of healing and perspective.

He waits. For me. For you. In love.

 
Fill me, Lord…

Why do you think we as Christians sometimes err on the side of stoicism?
How have you seen “realism” regarding your emotions benefit your intimacy with God?
 

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Between all the Pinterest pins-o-cuteness and the comparisons I conjure up in my mind, I have 482 things that want to make it to my to-do list for today. Approximately. This cultural pull towards outward perfection drains me dry. Which is why I rebel from it. And why I don’t have updated pictures of my kids on our walls…or own a laminater.

It’s just. too. much.

So I choose one thing to do each day. Only one. And I’m not talking the super-spiritual (correct) answer that says “I will only worship God today.” Though I pray I only worship God today, even when/if I clean the toilet. But that’s not what I mean.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24

I mean I only choose one extra thing for my to-do list. In two, sometimes three, categories. Yes, I have my typical daily things like take a shower and make my bed and feed my soul…and feed the people in my house. But beyond those everyday tasks, I only add one extra thing to my list — and most times it isn’t pinnable.

For example. I may decide that my extra “writing” thing for today is to draft a blog post. Or I may decide that my extra “personal” thing is to paint my nails. Priorities. Whatever it is, there’s a huge release of pressure when only one thing makes it to the list rather than hundreds of things.

Some days I may have more time to give or more things that “have” to be done, but most days life is full of relationship things that deserve my primary attention. And if I spend my mental energies mapping out how these hundreds of other things will get done, or stressing that they won’t, I miss the moment.

So I’ve created a printable. It works great if you laminate it (for all you laminater-owners) or put it in a frame (the cheap, plastic box frames work great) and then each day you can write your one thing on it with a dry-erase marker.

And if you don’t get that one thing done, you can erase what you originally wrote and write something in the space that you did accomplish. That’s what I do to encourage myself when the day gets away from me. “Just breathe today.” Check.

Click here to go to my printable store to download the file.

Fill me, Lord…

How do you keep your to-do list “under control”?
 

The post how to find freedom for your to-do list {PRINTABLE} appeared first on Lara Howard.

About halfway down my list I had the word “lime”. As in singular, “one lime” because I was making guacamole and you must have a lime if it’s gonna be any good. But I only needed one. Uno. A lime.

Did I mention my kids were with me? And I was kinda done?

So I saw the bag of limes in the produce section and weighed my options. I could buy this bag of 28 lovely limes or I could drive to yet another store with three hungry kids, get them out of the vehicle after they find their shoes that they somehow feel compelled to purge whenever we enter said vehicle, and take them into that store for a singular lime. I think not. So I bought the bag of limes — 28 of them — justifying it with dreams of lime desserts and lime drinks and lime…chicken.

Oh and carrots? Came to the same conclusion. Hello, you 54 full-size, crunchy carrots, you. Welcome to our refrigerator.

That night while I fixed dinner I put my kids to work, because this bushel of carrots won’t peel itself. And when my husband walked through the door and saw the bag ‘o carrots and the bowl of limes sitting on the countertop, he just gave me the look. You know, the “Why the heck are there that many carrots and limes in our kitchen” look.

I tried to convince him that we needed them. And that it was a way better financial deal. He nodded unconvinced, while I pressed on as a hopeful drill sergeant to my carrot-peel-covered children.

Today, one week later, I still have 18 limes in my fridge (because I gave about 7 to my sister). And the vast majority of that massive bag of carrots remains crammed on the bottom shelf of my refrigerator, slowly but surely becoming bunny food.

I have three morals to the story.

1. Costco will suck you dry and leave you for dead. Just kidding. I still love Costco. But it always tempts me to buy way too much of…everything. Therefore enter on-guard. Consider yourself forewarned.
2. Sometimes it’s best to say “no”. Just because we live in this consumer, dripping-with-stuff society doesn’t mean we always have to say “yes” to more. I’m mainly speaking to me. I am not a big spender but I know this. I didn’t need 28 limes! Say “no” lady. People around the world are starving for food and Bibles and I am throwing away rotten produce. That’s a problem to me.
3. And finally, lime pancakes? Not so much.

 

Fill me, Lord…

What has God been (re)teaching you these days?
 

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]]> https://tooverflowing.com/the-day-i-bought-28-limes-and-54-carrots-and-what-i-learned/feed/ 14 8462 https://tooverflowing.com/because-the-milk-will-probably-spill/ https://tooverflowing.com/because-the-milk-will-probably-spill/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:00:51 +0000 http://ToOverflowing.com/?p=7162 Yes. The milk will spill. And it will probably be chocolate. And it will probably spill on the floor you just mopped for the first time all month. Not only that, the kids will run through the house with muddy boots. The dog will eat your still-warm, from-scratch cookies off the counter. The toilet will...

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]]> Yes. The milk will spill. And it will probably be chocolate. And it will probably spill on the floor you just mopped for the first time all month.

Not only that, the kids will run through the house with muddy boots. The dog will eat your still-warm, from-scratch cookies off the counter. The toilet will overflow because someone tried to flush a Lego creation. And the computer will crash just before you save that 800-word blog post — the one in which you poured out your heart with deep vulnerability.

I’m just here to encourage you.

 



 

Seriously, though. These are the things that can get to me. In fact, it’s often the little daily annoyances that bring out the me that I can’t stand. The one that I hope no one else sees or hears or remembers. Because she can be jacked. up…

I’m hanging out over at the Allume blog today. Click here to read the rest of this post.


 
Fill me, Lord…

What do you do to keep perspective when those daily annoyances arise?

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]]> https://tooverflowing.com/because-the-milk-will-probably-spill/feed/ 3 7162 https://tooverflowing.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-desperate-for-grace/ https://tooverflowing.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-desperate-for-grace/#comments Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:00:39 +0000 http://ToOverflowing.com/?p=6974 I’ve known the call on my life for about eleven years: declare on the rooftops what He speaks in the closet. God told me that after He redeemed me from some deep mess back in 1999. Ever since, I’ve been compelled to be real and raw about my own faith, love-walk with Jesus — the...

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]]> I’ve known the call on my life for about eleven years: declare on the rooftops what He speaks in the closet. God told me that after He redeemed me from some deep mess back in 1999. Ever since, I’ve been compelled to be real and raw about my own faith, love-walk with Jesus — the good, the bad, and the ugly.

When He led me to start blogging a few years ago, I knew that it was an extension of that call. That this would be a platform He would graciously use for me to spill out all He teaches in my own little life — trusting that He would take these human words and by His grace anoint them to touch a heart or two.

I’m not one for putting on some “religious show” — we’ve seen enough of that. I’m not into fake religiosity — which is good because neither was Jesus. I truly want to be an authentic (though highly imperfect) reflection of my Lord, which is partly why I needed to take that blogging break.

 



 

One of the things I often say is “if what I say (and write and tweet) doesn’t first transform the moments of my own life then I’m missing the point.” And the truth is, for a few weeks I headed down a very selfish road, hurting some people He’s commissioned me to love. But God.

But. God. He stopped me. To be honest, He sold me out. He said, “Enough, daughter. That’s enough.” And then He peeled me off the ground. It hasn’t been easy. In fact it’s been downright excruciating to see some of the unsettled places of my heart. But He allowed all of it for a thousand different reasons. And for that, I’m thankful.

Where does that leave me today? A little scarred. A little bruised and heart-sore. A lot humbled. But passionately reveling in the great grace of our merciful Lord. And desperate that He alone gets the glory. I’m absolutely nothing without Him.

So it’s good to be back. And don’t go too far. By His grace, I’ve got lots to say.

 
Fill me, Lord…

Tell me about a time when His grace totally overwhelmed you.
 

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]]> https://tooverflowing.com/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-desperate-for-grace/feed/ 13 6974 https://tooverflowing.com/say-it-with-me/ https://tooverflowing.com/say-it-with-me/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:00:57 +0000 http://ToOverflowing.com/?p=6914 I had one of those mornings this weekend when God overwhelmed me with Himself and I have no choice but to spill it out with words. You ready? It’s. not. about. me! I know. Revelation. I’ve felt distracted lately with this book release and wondering if people will like it or like me or crucify...

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]]> I had one of those mornings this weekend when God overwhelmed me with Himself and I have no choice but to spill it out with words. You ready?

It’s. not. about. me! I know. Revelation.

I’ve felt distracted lately with this book release and wondering if people will like it or like me or crucify me with rejection. Me. Me. Me. I’m sick of me!

Which is good. Because IT’S NOT ABOUT ME. Or you! Sorry to burst your bubble. It’s all about HIM!

 



 

This world deceives us. There’s an underlying mantra whispered around every stinkin’ corner, “It’s all about you. It’s all about you.” It’s all about how many likes you get and how many subscribers you have and how many people buy your book or laugh at your witty little jokes.

*deep breath*

I needed a jolt. Again.

This life, it’s not about you or me. It’s all about Him. It’s all about this God who radically loves us and made a way for His enemies to be forgiven and set free. It’s all about us reflecting and declaring that truth to the ends of the world. It’s all about Him increasing and us decreasing. That’s the point.

 

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30

 

So I had a little church in my living room this weekend, pointing to Him. Telling Him to use me as He wills. Hoping He allows me to write slam poetry and maybe rap one day…for His glory of course. I’m half-joking. Half.

He’s so patient with us. He’s so gracious to lift the fog.

 
Fill me, Lord…

How have you been tempted to think it’s all about you lately?
How do you remind yourself that it’s all about Him?

 

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]]> https://tooverflowing.com/say-it-with-me/feed/ 8 6914 https://tooverflowing.com/crushing-the-insecurity/ https://tooverflowing.com/crushing-the-insecurity/#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:30:53 +0000 http://ToOverflowing.com/?p=6252

I went to a blogging conference last year. Prior to that weekend, I hadn’t met any of my blog peeps in-person. And let me tell you, underneath all the fun and laughs and coffee, I battled a dose of insecurity before and during the conference. (Masked well in the Smilebooth.)   (Stacey Thacker, Katie Orr,...

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]]>

I went to a blogging conference last year. Prior to that weekend, I hadn’t met any of my blog peeps in-person. And let me tell you, underneath all the fun and laughs and coffee, I battled a dose of insecurity before and during the conference. (Masked well in the Smilebooth.)

 


(Stacey Thacker, Katie Orr, and me.)

 

Thinking on that wrestling I did with insecurity honestly makes me mad — at myself, at satan, at…whoever else I can point the finger. Because Jesus didn’t die so that we would live a doubtful, self-focused existence.

He came and died and defeated sin so that we would find all security in Him. He places His Spirit within us so that we would walk these short days bold and sure, regardless of what we own and regardless of what others think.

Ugh. Insecurity. I picture a wolf disguised as a frail, little old lady. It seems meek and inoffensive at first glance, but in actuality it destroys us from the inside out. Therefore it must die.

 

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you…
Colossians 3:5

 

I’m going to that same conference again this week. Woo to the hoo, Allume girls! But I definitely don’t want to waste time with insecurity while I’m there. So here are a few things I’m choosing to remember.

 

God’s got awesome, eternal things on today’s agenda.

Wherever today takes you or me, He goes before us. And He’s always working. Whether at a conference or in the grocery store, He has eternal things set aside for you and I to do. He has carved divine appointments into today. We just have to follow His lead — eyes on Him instead of consumed with us — and confidently walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

 

Your Daddy is King. That’s royalty.

In Christ, we’re daughters of the King. We have a royal inheritance. Our Daddy rules. Hang out with those thoughts for a while and insecurity has to bow.

 

Nearly every other woman in the room battles insecurity on some level.

We’re not alone. That “perfect” woman who always seems to say the “perfect” witty thing at the “perfect” moment, more often than not struggles with insecurity. And remembering that encourages me. (Maybe because misery loves company.) Instead of comparing, let’s pray for our sisters.

 

Girlfriend, you have some cuteness goin’ on.

I know this seems so superficial, but ladies, there’s something woven deep in the fabric of a woman that wants to be named “beautiful.” And I honestly believe that each of us are beauty. Not only internally because of Him, but externally because God designed us. And He does amazing things. Granted I struggle to believe it at times, because my eyes fall down to this planet and I’m tempted to compare myself. But I’m just sayin’, you have some cuteness, girlfriend.

 
God made each of us unique. And He did so on purpose. We’ll bring the greatest blessing upon ourselves, and pour out the greatest blessing on each other, when we stop comparing and start living confident in what He says about us.

 
Fill me, Lord…

How have you battled with insecurity?
What lies have you believed?
What truths can you meditate upon to “put to death” that insecurity?
 

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]]> https://tooverflowing.com/crushing-the-insecurity/feed/ 9 6252 https://tooverflowing.com/god-and-sex-and-the-single-girl/ https://tooverflowing.com/god-and-sex-and-the-single-girl/#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:00:05 +0000 http://ToOverflowing.com/?p=5653

Dear single sister-friend, You’ve been on my mind lately. Yes, you. Because I can’t get away from all the “sex” in this world. Every magazine cover screams of sexuality. Music videos taunt with little clothes and bare chests. Movies and books sell because of R-ratings. It’s everywhere! So with all this sex talk, I keep...

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]]>

Dear single sister-friend,

You’ve been on my mind lately. Yes, you. Because I can’t get away from all the “sex” in this world. Every magazine cover screams of sexuality. Music videos taunt with little clothes and bare chests. Movies and books sell because of R-ratings. It’s everywhere!

So with all this sex talk, I keep thinking of you. Because I know it’s difficult to live in a world filled with temptation. I know what it’s like to believe that giving yourself away could somehow fulfill that desire to be loved.

I know because years ago, I was a promiscuous girl in search of “love.” I’m one who gave my body and soul away before the Lord rescued me from me — leaving scars on my spirit that can still effect.

 



 

God made sex. He designed it in all of its mystery. He created it in all of its complexity. We’re the ones that mess it up. We abuse and confuse it.

When He says that He crafted it for marriage, He says so out of His pursuing, perfect, consuming love for you and for me. It’s not that He’s mean or on some egotistical high, setting unreasonable boundaries. He defines sexuality. He blesses it.

But we worship it. We as a society take this deeply spiritual intimacy and make it a physical mockery. We as humans act as if we control our sexuality, saying when and where and why, when in actuality it controls us. We pant and lust and drool, mishandling the beauty He intended. I mishandled it.

 

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
that you not stir up or awaken love
until it pleases (your Lord).
Song of Solomon 8:4

 

Graciously, He forgives. He cleanses. He restores broken vessels. Always remember that truth. But He allows the scars. He heals, but leaves reminders of His great mercy.

So I’ve been thinking of you. And praying for you — that you would wait for that one He’s preparing. That you would remember true beauty and trust your Father to be faithful. And that you would continually pray for your future husband, because he’s facing the same, relentless deceptions.

Signed in love,
A girl with scars

 
Fill me, Lord…

If you’re single, how have you struggled against the world’s conversation about sex?

If you’re not single, what would you say to your single sister-friends about sexuality?

 

To all my fellow Sermon on the Mount peeps, wow. Feeling a little tangled in chapter six but I’m pressing on, by His grace. I pray that He gives us quick minds this week.

{Week 28}

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:28-29

 

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]]> https://tooverflowing.com/god-and-sex-and-the-single-girl/feed/ 11 5653 https://tooverflowing.com/what-it-really-means-to-wait-and-the-promises-that-follow/ https://tooverflowing.com/what-it-really-means-to-wait-and-the-promises-that-follow/#comments Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:00:43 +0000 http://ToOverflowing.com/?p=5610

Sometimes this world overwhelms. To hear of that young woman who aborted her twins at 20 weeks, gut-wrenching. To see marriage after Christian marriage completely crumble, devastating. To read of young girls and boys and women kidnapped and then sold to gratify insatiable lust and consuming greed, unbelievable in the truest sense of the word....

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]]>

Sometimes this world overwhelms.

To hear of that young woman who aborted her twins at 20 weeks, gut-wrenching. To see marriage after Christian marriage completely crumble, devastating. To read of young girls and boys and women kidnapped and then sold to gratify insatiable lust and consuming greed, unbelievable in the truest sense of the word. Hi, welcome to today’s word of hope.

Then there’s the daily pull of what-needs-to-be-done. Emails holler from the inbox, “Answer me!” Social media never sleeps. Groceries and homework and finding shoes that fit and being everywhere on time. It’s just too much. No wonder we as humans turn to anything and everything to numb the pain. No wonder I sometimes go outside and do this, except without a smile…

 


Click here if you are having trouble viewing.

 

(I’m not exactly sure what possessed me to actually let you see that.)

Looking around down here for too long makes me freak out a little — obviously. That’s why I’m so thankful there’s another option — the one that typically comes after my brief freak out. It’s the one where He takes my chin and turns my heart and mind and soul back onto Him.

Even with all the trauma and drama that lives on this planet, turning back to Him makes that Isaiah passage tangible.

 

Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31

 

Those who wait on the Lord. Wait. That doesn’t mean I sit around and eat Bonbons (do they even make those anymore?). It doesn’t mean I nervously bite my nails desperately hoping that God shows up. To wait means I “bind” to Him (see Strong’s concordance). I strain my mind towards Him and His promises, expecting Him to be faithful.

I have to do that daily…minutely. I have to bind to Him when this world overwhelms. I have to grab onto His neck and cling to my Father for dear life. And you know what He promises? Renewed strength. He’s not talking about our old feeble, fleshly strength. He gives new strength — His strength.

His strength enables us to run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint. And those aren’t just words on a page to make us feel good. Those are words that mean something. Those are promises I’ve intimately experienced.

 



 

This world will continue to overwhelm. People will still sin and betray and do evil, horrid things. But as Jesus-followers, this world is not our ultimate home. We’re sojourning through.

As we bind to Him, He will renew us. He will strengthen us so that we can enter back into the world’s conversation. He will empower us to shine as lights in our homes and at our jobs and across the globe, even in the midst of overwhelming.

 
Fill me, Lord…

How do you “bind to Him” when this world overwhelms?
 

The post what it really means to “wait” and the promises that follow appeared first on Lara Howard.

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