In Need of Dance Lessons

Have you ever been at a wedding, or some other social event, and you are watching people out on the dance floor doing a line dance, and suddenly, without warning, you find yourself out on the floor trying to figure the whole thing out? Some of the steps come naturally to you (especially if you are my age, because almost ALL line dances include some form of "The Hustle.") But some of the steps are a little more complicated and for a while you feel like a baby giraffe, all legs and no rhythm. You watch everyone else dancing with grace and ease (okay maybe not grace, but they look like they're having fun), but you just seem to keep struggling. Gradually the steps come to you though, and just about the time you think you've got it, the music is over.

Lately, that's what my relationship with God feels like. Some of the steps come naturally. I feel like I've done them before, hundreds of times. But some of them I just can't seem to get. I look at everyone else and they seem to be getting it, or at least they are putting on a good show, but I'm struggling. My legs go one way and my body goes another. Or maybe a better way of saying it is my head tells me to do one thing and my heart tells me to do another. Or if I want to be super spiritual, I can say that God tells me to do one thing and the enemy tells me to do another, and I end up doing a mixture of both because I can't discern the voice of God.

WELL, (I know you were hoping I would have a point soon) in my Bible study "Discerning the Voice of God" I read something this morning that seemed to pull it all together for me. The author says, "As I seek to hear God's voice, do I really desire to hear what His purposes are, or do I just desire to pursue my own and HOPE for His blessing?" I confess there are times, many times, when I lay out my plans, present them to the Lord like I am at a big Jesus and Me board meeting, and then He smiles at me from His Board of Director's chair, as if to say, "you're a good planner, Carol, keep up the good work."

As usual, it comes back around to pride. I want my own way and I want God to bless it. I might be asking God to guide me, but what I am really saying is, "Here are my plans, Lord, will you bless them?" When I ask for discernment, what I am really saying is, "Lord, will you show me how to get my way?"

Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." He created me new in Jesus, so that I can do what? . . . the good things that HE PLANNED for me long ago. It's not that difficult Carol, not that difficult.

All that to say, I need some dance lessons.