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Get off your mat!

Today I was reminded of a story I've heard twice at women's conferences and have yet to put it into practice. I'm going to attempt to share it with you. Our story is from Matthew 9:

"Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home.

My focus today is the mat. Have you ever pondered the mat before? This paralyzed man most likely lived on this mat. Can you imagine what was on it? How it smelled? And then Jesus heals him and - poof - he can walk. Jesus' command to him is simple, "Get up, take your mat and go home."

What the speaker (whose name I canNOT remember!) asked of us is simple. Can you imagine what it would take for that man to get back on the mat? I would think really NOTHING would make him do that. He was a new person and the old was shed. Completely.

Jesus has healed you from something. You had a mat...and maybe you still do. What is your mat? What is mine? On a daily basis, do you get back on your mat? You, who have been made new, do you lay back down on the you that used to be and forget the gifts you have been given? I do. 

I remember at the conference we were given little pieces of burlap to write what was on our map. I couldn't think of anything to write and I still have it. Every once and I while I come across it and still can't think of anything. Until today. 

My mat is worry. Worry and control. Through the Word, I know that God can do all things, that he loves me, and that worry does absolutely nothing. But every day I get up and I lay on my filthy, worry mat. And I think about things I can't control...and this worry is about to cause my life to change in ways I once never dreamed possible. 

I need to get off the mat. 

No matter what the future holds, Jesus --my Jesus-- told me to get up. Off my worry mat and trust him. 

Today, think about your mat. Have you thrown it off and are living in freedom? Or do you keep it around, just in case, because although not-so-awesome, the mat brings you a strange sense of comfort? If it's the latter. THROW IT OUT. Get up. Be the new you that Jesus promised you are. 2 Corinthians 5 tells us: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!" 

Let's get off our mats'. And stay off. 

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