"Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson is to learn that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way." (Oswald Chambers)
It was quite revealing to read this a few days ago. Revealing because I do NOT typically expect God to come in as an element of surprise. I put Him in a box. A nice little God-box. I expect to find God in this box many times a day/week: through worship songs, reading the Word, praying, talking with friends, going to church, etc. And the awesome thing is that he DOES show up for me in this little God-box. But I believe he would show up even more if I threw away the box and expected him to just BE there. However. Wherever. Exactly as He wishes.
I do the same thing for myself. I live in nice little Betsy-boxes. A box for every role/occasion. The Betsy in these boxes lives in a certain way, with certain expectations...she expects to get used by God, but also, only in certain ways. I plan on God using the me in this box to do the things that I can see AT THIS TIME. In my box of the moment, I am surrounded by walls. I can't get out. I cannot be used for everything God has planned for me because my only options are what I can see and feel inside these six sides.
God can see around my box of the moment. He can see through my box. He can dump my box upside down and chuckle as I figure out how to stand in the mud (because that is what my box is currently sitting on!) God can throw my box away and rebuild me to be free.And box-less. For both Him and me!
Free, because you see, boxes typically come with labels and limitations. And my God didn't make me to be stuck under either of those things. And He certainly doesn't deserve to be limited by own labels of Him or what I think he can/should do.
I'm new to this idea of living outside the box. Or boxes. Up until a year ago, I felt safe in several of my boxes. There was one in particular that I had felt that I was created for, in this ONE way...and then found out that this box/role may not exist anymore. I was surprised all right. In two very different ways. The first was horrible: what in the world would I do without this role? How would I live without that one box? Wasn't that my safe box? And then...the second surprise was glorious. Thanks to Oswald Chambers. It was God breaking in to tell me that he doesn't look at me and see me in ANY of my boxes. He simply sees. And whatever he sees, he can use. It's me who created the boxes. It is Him who wants to tear them down. Until all that is left to define me is one thing: daughter of a King. And for that lovely lady, the possibilities are endless.
It was quite revealing to read this a few days ago. Revealing because I do NOT typically expect God to come in as an element of surprise. I put Him in a box. A nice little God-box. I expect to find God in this box many times a day/week: through worship songs, reading the Word, praying, talking with friends, going to church, etc. And the awesome thing is that he DOES show up for me in this little God-box. But I believe he would show up even more if I threw away the box and expected him to just BE there. However. Wherever. Exactly as He wishes.
I do the same thing for myself. I live in nice little Betsy-boxes. A box for every role/occasion. The Betsy in these boxes lives in a certain way, with certain expectations...she expects to get used by God, but also, only in certain ways. I plan on God using the me in this box to do the things that I can see AT THIS TIME. In my box of the moment, I am surrounded by walls. I can't get out. I cannot be used for everything God has planned for me because my only options are what I can see and feel inside these six sides.
God can see around my box of the moment. He can see through my box. He can dump my box upside down and chuckle as I figure out how to stand in the mud (because that is what my box is currently sitting on!) God can throw my box away and rebuild me to be free.And box-less. For both Him and me!
Free, because you see, boxes typically come with labels and limitations. And my God didn't make me to be stuck under either of those things. And He certainly doesn't deserve to be limited by own labels of Him or what I think he can/should do.
I'm new to this idea of living outside the box. Or boxes. Up until a year ago, I felt safe in several of my boxes. There was one in particular that I had felt that I was created for, in this ONE way...and then found out that this box/role may not exist anymore. I was surprised all right. In two very different ways. The first was horrible: what in the world would I do without this role? How would I live without that one box? Wasn't that my safe box? And then...the second surprise was glorious. Thanks to Oswald Chambers. It was God breaking in to tell me that he doesn't look at me and see me in ANY of my boxes. He simply sees. And whatever he sees, he can use. It's me who created the boxes. It is Him who wants to tear them down. Until all that is left to define me is one thing: daughter of a King. And for that lovely lady, the possibilities are endless.
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