Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

“Should” is Contagious

by 34 Comments

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  

Click To Tweet

 

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

 

Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, please share to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, subscribe!

And look up these great writers I link up with every week:

Mix it Up Linky, InstaEncouragements, Literacy Musing Mondays, Hello…Monday,

Dream Team link up, The Good. The Random. The Fun.

BloggerClubUK, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith,

GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up, Different Dream,

Let’s Have Coffee, Welcome Wednesday, Recharge Wednesday,

Worth Beyond Rubies, #TellHisStory Link Up, Porch Stories,

Encouraging Word Wednesday, Tune In Thursday,

Stories of Hope, Moments of Hope, IHeart Verse Link Party,

A Blogging Good Time, Fresh Market Friday, Feature Friday Time,

Friendship Friday Blog Hop, Faith on Fire, Traffic Jam Weekend,

Faith ‘n Friends, Dancing with Jesus, Grace & Truth, Booknificent

Comments

  2. 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.

    Reply

  4. 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

    Reply

  5. 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.

    Reply

  7. 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.

    Reply

    • Thank you, Tammy. Creating some accountability for myself and hoping to encourage someone else in the process.

      Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

  11. 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?

    Reply

  12. 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)

    Reply

  13. 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

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

Archives