The Leash Lady and taking on the "s" word...submission.

The other day I was riding through town with a friend when I saw something that was rather odd looking to me walking across the crosswalk.  There was a couple walking their two dogs.  The woman was in front walking a large lab/retriever mix and walking behind her was a man with a chihuahua type ankle biter.  I commented to my friend that the whole scene looked backwards and odd to me.  Her reply has been on my mind and in my heart ever since.  She said, "It wouldn't seem backwards to you if you knew the couple.  I do and she definitely is in charge!"  In my mind's eye, I could see the invisible leash she had strapped to his neck as she drug him along in life.   I am sure if you have read many of my blogs,  you know that I subscribe to the truth of the Bible and I believe that God created order and authority lines as a way of giving us guidance to peaceful and abundant living. Just like chain of command is imperative in organizational structure, so is line of authority in family structure. I've known women who have blatantly refused to allow their husbands to lead.  Scary stuff and it becomes a life of constant battle.  I've known women who have to lead because their husbands refuse to do so.  Sad stuff because most women in that position would love nothing more than for their guy to take the reigns and lead the family. The worst scenario to me is the manipulative woman who poses as one who submits on the surface, but deeper study exposes a puppet master behind the scenes using whatever means to get her way.  Fortunately, there are some great, godly women who consistently do it right and I enjoy watching them build their men and families up...my Mom is one who immediately comes to mind!

A lesson I learned from thinking about Leash Lady was to take a hard look at my relationship with Jesus.  I hate to think of how many times my walk with the Lord probably looks like I am trying to be the Leash Lady.  I have headed in a direction of my own will and decided to 'drag' Jesus with me.  I would make a decision to pursue something or someone and tack a prayer on the already "cemented in my mind" choice.  Other times, I would try to find scripture to support my decision, instead of allowing His word to mold the choices I faced. I hve even come so far as to allow Him full reign in parts of my life (usually the areas I felt safe that He would leave as is!).  However, He doesn't work like that and fortunately, that is not the end of my story!  Through some sifting, growth spurts and set backs, I am being more and more driven to give Him the reigns of all areas of my life. He is calling me to be set apart for this time with Him alone and I am excitedly nervous about it.  There are so many 'what ifs' in my heart, and one by one, He is addressing them. The peace that ensues from this is indescribable. He wants me to take that step of faith to jump into an adventure that only He can create uniquely for me. But, I know that without complete trust in Him, it won't be the ultimate adventure. I so want to obediently follow where He leads. I don't want to be the Leash Lady.....

Proverbs 21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Consider Your Ways

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. ~ Haggai 1:5

I try to pay attention to the Lord whenever I hear His word, but I have to admit much probably gets past me on a consistent basis.  However, I have made a practice of really paying attention when I hear something more than once over the course of a 24 hour period.  Today, I believe the Lord was shouting to me as I heard the Lord speak to me about the same issue from three different sources over the course of 4 hours...that's a condensation of His Word that is highly unusual for me.  What was basically said is what the Lord said in Haggai:  Consider your ways.

As I have encouraged those words to take residence in my heart today, I've come to the conclusion that I have not been careful in obeying that admonishment. 

I have been waging a battle with the Lord over control of a few areas of my life and frankly, it's made me miserable.  God has made it clear to me that I am in deep need of accountability in my life, and I have chosen to try to tread in the cesspool of pride, only to find myself almost drowning.  I have refused to humble myself, invite another believer into my world to give guidance, prayer,encouragement and thus allow the Lord not only to work in my life, but possibly work in theirs.  I have made useless excuses as to why I haven't obeyed.  As I was thinking it over during the morning message, I've realized that the most rudimentary reason is that I don't want the Lord to say 'no' to me. And in my childish resistance to obedience, I have failed to realized that I am also risking missing a 'yes' from Him as well. 

I know that the biggest part of pleasing the Lord is faith...faith in Him, His ways, and trusting that His promise to watch over me are beyond good enough reasons to take the risk of a 'no'....I would welcome your prayers as I move forward in obedience.