I'm waiting for God to push me around.
Like a chessman on a chessboard, the next move is up to Him.
I'm just a pawn in his great big plan ready to do his bidding.
The architect has this all figured out and I'm drafted into a plan that keeps me safe and cognitive.
Tell me what to do.
Tell me what not to do.
Tell me that to think and what not to.
Show me what is sin and how not to sin.
Rescue me from myself and my sinful ways.
Santa Clause is coming to town.
I used to think about God this way.
Thinking this way, determined my entire way of being.
I once heard someone say that we live out our spirituality in reaction to who we think God is.
I thought He was like this.
I thought I had to prove myself to him.
I thought I had to earn his acceptance.
I thought I had to demonstrate my worth.
I thought I had to perform myself into approval.
Deep love shut me up and shattered my silly beliefs:
I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is. I pray that you will know the love of Christ.
His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.
~ Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLV)
God's love is ruthless. His grace is scandalous. As Paul said, it goes beyond anything we can understand. It's nonsensical, unfair, and inescapable. It's everywhere.
He continues:
God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
~ Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)
I'm not a chessman on a chessboard.
He is not pushing me around.
He is not an architect that drafted me into a plan like an unmovable piece in a puzzle.
I'm a free man.
A free human.
Free to live and to love.
Free to accept love and to be loved.
Free to understand that love and freedom go hand-in-hand.
It was for freedom that Christ has set us free.
If you are really wise, you'll think this over -
it's time you appreciated GOD's deep love.
~ Psalm 107
I'm going to try and be really wise today.
Truly, madly, and deeply wise.