Day 11: Praise the socks off of me….
Day 11: 6 May 2018
Yesterday was overwhelm, today I am on to new holy socks…
Introduction: Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship exercise = exact words make NO difference. Words that the Holy Spirit places on my heart is what matters.
SONG: Zach Williams – Fear Is a Liar (Official Music Video)
“Fear is a liar. Cast your fear in the fire. Fear, he is the liar.”
“He will take your breath and stop you in your steps.”
“He told you that you are not worthy, you are not loved, you are not enough. Fear is a liar.”
“He will take your happiness. Fear, he is a liar.”
“He told you that you are trouble and you will always be alone. He told you that you are the one that grace can never change. Fear is a liar. He will take your breath and stop you in your steps. Cast your fear in the fire.”
“When he told you that you are not strong enough to put up a fight. Fear is a liar.”
“Rob your rest, steal your happiness. Cast your fear in the fire.”
“Let your fire fall and cast out all my fears.”
Step 1: Gather
My thoughts are all over the place and enjoying it all.
Socks come in different colors and character.
There are holy socks and there are socks with holes.
Tremendous difference that, as a Christian, I have got to get a grip on this concept. There is a time to hang on to our old holy socks and there is a time to let socks go that have holes in them. There is a time to learn the distinction.
Before I get too deep into my sock drawer, let me thank you, Lord, for revealing socks to me. I am slow to let you knock the socks off of me but boy-oh-boy, when you reveal it deep in my soul, I do eventually get it through and through. Thank you for your loving patience with me.
Socks come in all colors, shapes, sizes, weaves and materials. Most of us wear socks. I have worn every one of these categories, at some point in my life.
- Some, wear socks to hide their dirty disgusting feet (their broken soles/souls)
- Some, wear socks for protection (another barrier to their soles/souls)
- Some, wear socks for provision of your warmth, your care, your loving-kindness for our comfort (healing their soles/souls)
Our socks usually reflect who we are inside.
I have allowed all of the following socks with holes in my life.
- Socks with holes, let hot air come and go without the provision and wisdom of the Word of God
- Socks with holes, provide the opportunity to be mended
- Socks with holes that are not mended, become useless
- Socks with holes, are given their free will; to be washed, repaired and better than new, washed in the blood of Jesus… or not
- Socks with holes, can steal our rest, our well-needed, life-saving rest required for healing
- Socks with holes, provide a unique opportunity to be transparent, to see through/past this world and into the heart of God
- Socks with holes, provide an opportunity to let others see the gapping empty spaces inside of all of us – when allowed, it can let Jesus AND his people in through the soles to reach the soul
- Socks with holes, have the ability to be repaired, redeemed – it is a choice every individual is required to make for themselves
Holy socks are a completely different story. They are the remedy for socks with holes. They are like wearing the stripes of Christ.
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” ~ 1 Peter 2:23-24 NIV
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” ~ Isaiah 53:5 NIV
- Holy socks sometimes are provided to be worn as a badge of honor – the wounds of life, the holes in our hands or feet from persecution are to be worn with honor – with stripped socks/wounds, we can rise above, because of Jesus our Lord and Savior
- Holy socks provide the warmth and comfort to be able to rest more comfortably when we need physical rest here on earth
- Holy socks provide the protection needed against the elements of the earth and its sinful people
- Holy socks given at Easter and Christmas is a wonderful representation of LIFE, not death
Step 2: Focused Reflection
Yesterday still has a sting to it. Abandonment from so many, at so many levels and the constant reminders that are evil, still engulf me on days like yesterday. How there can be so many attacks in one day from so many, in so many ways, just bewilders me.
My error. There should be no bewilderment when I know that satan is at the root of it all. It is sad that so many allow satan into their thoughts, lives and actions. I need to let that go and let that be between them and God.
I literally had to look up my own blog to find my last daily visual, that was supposed to help keep me focused. I had forgotten what it was because I allowed the evil to overwhelm me instead of keeping my eyes squarely focused on you, Lord.
Just had an interesting thought that this 21-Day Brain Detox led me to… You, Lord, have worked in me for a very long time. The more I follow your ways, the more alone I am becoming in this world. The more people are blatantly attacking me, abandoning me and showing how dark this world really is. They are fighting you, not me.
The closer I move toward you, the harder it seems to get. I understand the concept. I so clearly get the oppression and the pressing in of this world, satan himself. I just thought I could do better with my thought life as I continued to get closer to you, completely rising above the nonsense of this world. They are fighting you, not me.
Instead, as others notice that ONLY because of your hand on my life, protecting me from them, do they press in harder and harder. The more I can see the holes in their socks, the more they oppress. They are fighting you, not me.
Their socks with holes needs to be their own, not mine.
My job right now is to be still, physically heal, reflect your truth and love.
Step 3: Journal
Lord, you are so awesome. You have taken my fruit-loopiness and helped me twist out my dirty socks and sort them, renew them with new, clean holy socks. Only you have the ability to do such a things in my goofy brain and goofy life.
I do not have the resources or the power to do it like you can. Your blood will wash all of my dirty socks out of my life. You will repair the ones worth repairing. You certainly will help me see through the socks with holes. You are the creator of all life, so you know the outcome of each. May you repair with your grace and mercy those you have chosen.
Today you provided me an unusual sermon in the form of a blog from one of my favorite current Christian writers: The Airing of Grievances
You put this scripture right under my nose, to ring clear in my heart. Nothing I can do about other’s hearts but reflect your knowledge of truth.
“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:23-26 NIV
May your light shine on my socks. May the holy socks you have provided me, keep the darkness out. Quench my thirst for you, Lord. Nourish my soul.
Step 4: Revisit
What do YOU want me to see, Holy Spirit? Others have holes in their socks that they do not want repaired, let it be. Rise above, in the light of our Savior. Let it be.
It was my anger and out-lashing at others that started this round of this 21-Day Brain Detox. The anger, fear and abandonment were, and are, a complete waste of precious time. My days are numbered like everyone. Use them wisely.
Step 5: Active Reach
Decision:
Stop allowing others to put their ragged dirty holes in my holy socks!!!!
I choose to look at MY socks. Your glory in the warmth, comfort and protection you provide for me through my particular pair of socks. My physical body requires quality deep rest for restoration. Only with your complete pair of holy socks can I obtain what you are requiring for my physical body.
You are my provider, engulf me in your constant glory.
Action:
Remember that I have NO control over other people’s socks. Don’t lose sight of my clean holy socks. It is a true gift, given at the cost of the innocent blood of Christ. Envision the light of Christ all around me.
May ALL of you be blessed with holy socks,
Maribeth Baxter, MBEC (Certified Mind-Body Eating Coach)
Dig Deeper – Grow More
Do your own 21-Day Brain Detox, by Dr. Caroline Leaf, Christian neuroscientist.
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