Slide Right In
"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10
There is a GIF (Graphic Interchange Format) on my work computer in my Team's chat, which shows a short video of someone sliding on the floor with the caption, "sliding into the weekend like....". On Friday mornings, I get excited to use this one illustration because I do not work on the weekends. My daughter likes to dress her feet in regular socks, and like an ice skater, she slides on one end of the living room floor to the next or from one end of the kitchen floor to the next. I focus my eyes as I follow her moves with protection, ready to save her from landing directly into one of the furniture, but this fearless child shoots across like a rocket being launched.
She digs through her sock bin, being very careful not to choose the socks that have grippers. You see, the tiny rubber patches on the bottom of these socks provide traction and do not allow her to move as freely as she would have loved to. In our daily lives, we have grippers that provide traction. These grippers do not allow us to move freely and stunt our spiritual growth. These also cause physical deficiencies on our minds and bodies. Grippers such as distraction and lies that the enemy plays in our heads like a scratch record. Grippers of fear that cripples and paralyzes us, unforgiveness that poisons our body, the treadmill of worry that keeps us moving in the same spot and grippers of pride, a lying tongue and an unkind heart. Proverbs 6:16-19, states, 'There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.' With the intention of creating a gap between God and man, the enemy tries to trick us into believing that the grippers will provide protection for us. Ɓut God built that bridge of freedom, faith, trust, obedience, grace, mercy, forgiveness, humility, faithful promises, and a guide for us to bear the fruit of the spirit. He had a plan to restore us, a plan of redemption.
Wearing the socks without grippers allows her to move freely, and with the confidence that she will be protected, there is nothing holding her back. Thank God, she has never had an accident, not because I was protecting her but because God is. Can you imagine if we gain that same confidence in our faithful Father that has never failed us? God has so many blessings for us, but we have to be intentional with the socks that we will dress our feet in. Socks that will help us to slide into and claim His wonderful promises. God wants us to wear socks of intentionality, socks of bible study, socks of service, compassion, socks of faith, humility, trust, obedience so that we can slide into our loving Father's arms who is willing and able to embrace us. The word slide shows a sense of urgency and Proverbs 18:10 implies the same sense of urgency as it states, "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." This is confidence in God that He is protecting us, and He wants us to run/slide to His arms for refuge from all the grippers that hold us back daily.
God has given us the assurance of who He is. With confidence I implore us to plant His word deep in our hearts so that we will be able to slide to Him in hope, faith, trust, comfort, protection and peace as we thrive into who He wants us to be. He is waiting for us with open arms, won't you slide right in!
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you that have put an edge around us to protect us from the evil one. We thank you that with confidence, we can slide to you for strength, growth, love, and peace. Help us to move freely as we run to your strong arms. Keep our minds stayed on you as we trust in your never-failing love for us. We say thanks in Jesus' name. Amen.
REFLECTION:
What is providing traction in your life that is holding you back and preventing you from sliding into your loving Father’s arms?