You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14
Meaning out of all that He's been saying, He's only told me to DO two things. The rest is just bonus knowledge for the time being: understanding, insight, and revelation.
And really, I'm so thankful that He pointed that out because I was unsure what to do with the magnitude/frequency of some of what He's been laying on our hearts. Like, was it begging for an immediate sumpin-sumpin on my part? Was I supposed to be figuring out an "appropriate responsive action"?
But thankfully, He doesn't always give revelation in order to evoke immediate action. Sometimes he just wants to share his heart, friend to friend.
"...the upright are in His confidence." Proverbs 3:32
"The secret (some translations say friendship) of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant."
another translation of the same verse...
"The LORD advises those who fear him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise." Psalm 25:14
His reminder to focus on what I know that I am to do made it that much easier to draw my attention back to the two things that He's asked of me this last year:
And so that's what I've been trying to focus on. And man, if it hasn't kept me busy...and RADICALLY changed my perspective on Stuff.
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After the Lord told me to reallllly deep clean my house, ridding it of all excess and clutter, I truly was stumped. I mean, it's not like I harbor junk. If anything, I always thought I was a bit obsessive when it came to purging our home of things.
(Just ask my family! My girls routinely ask me, "Are we going to have to yardsale that?" Me thinks they fear for their stuff at times. heh heh)
But here He was telling me to, AGAIN, get rid of stuff? Was there actually anything left TO get rid of? I kind of doubted it.
But one day, as I was walking up to the attic...to go through bins that I'd already gone through dozens of times before...He spoke. And though I don't remember the exact wording of it, here's the gist:
You have to get over this mentality of harboring stuff... the thoughts of "one day I'll use it" that seemingly justify your amassing of junk when there are others that can use it today. When you harbor things, it stops my full blessings from being able to be poured out on you.
That stopped me in my tracks, let me tell you! But it makes sense, you know? Kind of like a "make room so I can fill you with MY good things" type of thought.
And man, if that didn't completely give me a change of heart!! It was like my eyes were opened to a new way of looking at all my excess of unused things.
- Suddenly clothes that I had been holding onto, yet never wore for whatever reason...we're boxed up to give to others.
- Toys and books that were never used, were sent out to other children.
- Games that just sit on the shelf taking up space were added to the pile of giveaways.
- Furniture that we could do without...
Where this stuff came from, I don't know??! But I can't tell you the FREEDOM that has come with its exodus from my house. And I'm STILL finding stuff to purge...?!
Honestly, there are times when I don't get the things the Lord tells me to do. It makes little to no sense to me in that moment. But I suppose that's part of faith...trusting that, in time, He'll make it make sense. (at least that's the hope, huh? *grin*)
And, as I sit here, almost a year later, I can't tell you how many times I've been overwhelmed with thankfulness that I yielded my right to understand and obeyed anyway.
Because now...we're actually planning to move. A "random" decision that came Com-plete-ly out of the blue. (more on that later).
I happen to believe that the state of our home reflects the state of our hearts. And I know that the Lord is prepping Jet and I to be lighter. less attached to Stuff. and more free to receive the things I believe He's positioning us to obtain.
