Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always. Deuteronomy 11:1 NIV
I spilled a lot of my personal guts last week. If you missed it, you can read it here. If you don’t want all the sordid details, obedience to God was the general gist. I think I need to continue the conversation because it’s heavy, and yet it’s the only way to true freedom and peace. We must push through the yucky feelings that initially come from conviction to reach the joy and relief waiting on the other side.
When we make a decision to change something about ourselves or our lifestyle after hearing the siren call (or gentle whisper) of the Holy Spirit, things often get uncomfortable for those around us. Most people can understand believing in God – even if they don’t. Praying, attending church even. But radical obedience seems, as a good friend of mine would say, cuckoo-cachoo. Getting serious about a sin like gluttony makes people particularly uncomfortable. In fact, upon my confession and request for prayers, one sweet friend patted me on the knee and suggested I was being too hard on myself. Albeit well meaning, would she have said that if I confessed to stealing, or lying, or cheating? In the United States our big portions of greasy, fatty foods have become the norm. And if not the norm, at least considered a “treat”. And why shouldn’t we “treat” ourselves? Because in Philippians, Paul warned that those destined for destruction are those whose “god is their stomach” (3:19)! And when the prophets spoke of the city of Sodom – that God chose to destroy – being overfed was at the top of the list of the people’s infractions (Ezekiel 16:49).
Don’t hear me saying in some legalistic way that your favorite food, or mine, is inherently evil. But if it is more than we need, it is a problem. And I still very much have a problem. I put all of this out into the blogosphere and almost immediately began to struggle in my resolve. Unexpected stressors and temptations hit me from all sides and I slipped back into old sinful habits. I got busy and started neglecting my time in the Word and in prayer. Then God gave me this verse yesterday,
“Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
Luke 11:28 tells us, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” I hear Him. I know what I should do. But as I stated in the title of this post, should can be contagious. Once I “should”, I will soon be “should-ing” all over the place. That’s not what I want my testimony to be. And it’s not the response I want to give my Lord and Savior. So today I have repented again. Today I rededicate myself to time with God. And today I’m choosing to replace my “shoulds” and even “have to’s” with “want-to’s” and “wills”. Not in my own power. I have none. But in the power of the Holy Spirit. Would you pray for me in this? It would mean so very much to me. And if there is anything I can pray for you about, I would be honored if you would let me know. If you don’t want to type it in the comments for everyone to read, click on the CONTACT tab and send me a personal email.
“And this is love that we walk in obedience to his commands.” 2 John 1:6
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Praying for you, Lauren! May God turn the “shoulds” into “want tos.”
Blessings!
Thank you, Martha. That is my prayer as well.
Lauren, kudos to you for being open and transparent. This is a problem I struggle with as well. I’m reminded of something I once heard Joyce Meyer say when she was trying to cut back, “God gives us our necessary food.” So we eat what is necessary to the meal – but do we really need all those bread and rolls while we are waiting for our food to come? That just always stuck with me.
Praying for you in this, Jerralea.
Shoulda, coulda and woulda all bad ideas to dwell on.
Agreed, Rebecca.
You struck a cord in me when I saw this title at Crystal’s link up.
I “should” go for more walks so I can loose those kilos I’m not happy carrying anymore!
I should meet up with a friend to encourage her more…
I should….is definitely contagious & self defeating 😉
No more should but more “I will!”
Thank you Lauren,
Bless you,
Jennifer
Praying for you in this, Jennifer.
Lauren, your post made me think of this Anne Lamott quote “I’ve heard it said that the Holy Spirit very rarely respects one’s comfort zones.” When I was a teacher, I had a saying in the classroom: MSH (Make “stuff” happen). It sounds like that is exactly what you are doing.
Oh, the road is hard, though. Thanks for reading and engaging, Laurie.
Praying for you, but for all of us who are in need of prayer and should be doing it multiple times per day! #TrafficJamWeekend
You are so right, Antionette. Thank you so much. Saying a prayer for you too.
Thank you for your honesty and openness in sharing your story, Lauren. It is nice to “meet” you. I have struggled with the battle of gluttony versus treating myself. I too ask God for help in this battle. He says in his word that He will provide a way of escape. God has given me the strength not to make those purchases anymore. I have not missed them that much. (Except for Ice cream sometimes;) I know the enemy is going to all he can to destroy me and my testimony. However, in God’s strength, I can have victory. Thanks again for the visit. I will have to come back again. God bless you and yours.
Thank you for the support and encouragement, Horace.
Ah…the trap of shoulda, coulda, woulda…
Horrible, right?
Love your transparency!
Thank you, Tammy. Creating some accountability for myself and hoping to encourage someone else in the process.
Laura, thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements! And thanks for being so candid, again. Personally, I like the gentle whisper more so than the siren call. But I’m afraid I don’t always hear the whisper, and many times God has to come after me with His siren. Thanks for this reminder to listen for the whisper. Take care! You’re doing a good thing. Keep it up!
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Patsy. And for hosting such a great link up.
Thanks for sharing your struggle, Lauren. We all have them, different perhaps, but universal calls to obedience. Will pray for us both today! xx PS ISn’t God good to keep after us?
He is, Sue. I love the biblical reference to Him as the Hound of Heaven.
I had never thought of this, but oh, it is so true! Love the verse, I know that I too often start what God leads me to and then I am so good at taking over. I will be praying for you! Many Thanks 8)
Thank you for the prayers, Debra. That means so much to me.
You are so very right that “should” is contagious. It’s so hard at times to move off of should and onto “will.” God does want our will to be surrendered in completeness to His will! We can shift with His power and denying our flesh is so very key in all of it! #destinationinspiration linkup
Surrendered is such a great word, April. I need to sit with it today. Thank you.
I’m right there with you, Lauren. I’m working on being more diligent with walking, too. Praying for us both.
Thank you, Donna. Praying for you today.
Praying for God to continue to strengthen your resolve to obey Him in all things! Blessings!
Thank you for those prayers, Liz. It means so much.
I love that right when you were wavering and piled with stressors, the needed message came through. Powerful. #GlobalBlogging
God is good, Heather.
Praying for you in this, thank you for sharing your honesty with #AbloggingGodTime
Thank you for the prayers, Kylie. It means so much.