Ever had that experience of sitting on a plane, sandwiched into the middle seat? You can only sit straight up with your feet in front of you, and your hands in your lap for so long before you’re just ready to open a door, and jump out into the wide, open, expanse of the blue sky you’re flying in.
Or course, that would be a flight that wouldn’t end well, at least not for you!
The last time I was in that situation I can remember pulling in my arms so they didn’t touch the guys next to me. I can remember pulling in my legs so I didn’t accidentally end up playing footsies with my new neighbors. I can remember the strain in my neck from trying to keep it upright while I tried to sleep. Although these were big guys, with big shoulders that were probably pretty comfortable!
I can remember thinking, “the only thing left to do is to literally shrink the size of my body”.
That was not an enjoyable flight.
We sometimes think of what Jesus is trying to do in our lives as a similar experience. We tend to think that what God is up to is squeezing the life out of us. With His expectations, & lists, & stuff He requires. It can all seem like He is just trying to take the enjoyment of life away from us. So, we tend to hold back & hold out for fear that if we give into Him too much we’ll be miserable. So, it’s easier to then hold onto life than to let it fully go into His hands.
The Paradox though, is that life done with God is the one pursuit where the more you lose your life the more you not only find life, but you gain more of God in the process. More encounter, more experience, more understanding, more…
In the Bible, in a book called John there is a verse that talks about us shrinking that He may grow.
John 3:30
“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
Part of the reason we’re spending every Wednesday fasting together is to embrace the practice of becoming less by denying ourselves SO THAT we may gain more of Him and all that He has in store.
Let’s be in prayer together all day today for all that God has planned in each other’s lives & in our church. Praying for the 250 yet to find their life in God!!
