You know, sometimes Abba Father, our Loving ‘Daddy/Pappa’ simply HAS to take us to the woodshed. He loves us SO much that he gently speaks to us over and over about an issue and if we continue to choose to walk in our own stubborn ways, He keeps on until we finally ‘get it’! (or He will allow us to continue making mistakes and suffer the consequences) Once we ‘get it’, IT often comes as a trip to the woodshed…
image from durangotexas.blogspot.com
…but…there is breakthrough – IF we willingly go and allow Him to do His work in our hearts!
Oh, how we can drag our feet, dig in our heels, cover our ‘area to be spanked’ hoping that it won’t hurt too much . . . well, of course it will hurt! But His healing balm is greater than the hurt! There is FREEDOM that comes from realizing that He has been lovingly trying to reach our stubborn hearts all this time! His ways ARE best! Why are we soooooooo stubborn?!
My husband and I are studying “Seeking Him”, a Bible Study on personal revival by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, this year and today . . . was my day for the woodshed. I truly believe had we not been in a time of fasting (this is our fifth day in a 21 day fast)my heart would not have been receptive (as often before when He has tried to reach me on a specific topic).
Today’s lesson was actually part one of the end-of-week review, consisting of 9 questions for us to answer as honestly as possible. Part of question # 4 was like this: “What things do we hold on to even though they can easily be taken away?”
This was my response: (I am making myself vulnerable here as well as accountable)
~ I guess the one thing that I am / have been “holding on to” is the preaching and teaching part of 4-Given . I feel the Lord prompting me (this morning as I’m doing this study) to FULLY let it go. This is causing tears to fall and my heart to be torn apart, but I need to rest in Him and His plans for me. I need to become ‘okay’ with the fact that He may never choose to use me that way again. Can I let this go? I need to be obedient – Oh, Father, help me! – I have treasured this aspect of ministry for so long – IT HURTS – but, not my will . . . Yours be done. Forgive me, Lord, for clinging to this – pridefully – I repent and I release it to You. ~
Now, hours later, the tears are gone. Peace is upon me. I believe and KNOW that no matter what the future holds for me (and/or 4-Given Ministries) that ‘it is well’!
© klh 4-Given Ministries
FOGwalkerBirdie 
Oh, this is so beautiful. Sometimes it is so very difficult to let go either because we think the thing we hold fast to holds us up, or because we think the thing we hold onto is a part of us, sewn into us like a permanent scar.
Then we remember it is Him who holds us up, and He determines the new and larger direction to be taken from the scars. Discovery is what brings the peace as we allows ourselves to reach new understanding through the Spirit.
Sounds like you’re there. Have a blessed new year.
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That was really good.
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