New Equipment

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 62 - 

Sometimes "vintage" is just 

another word for "old!"

I'm a fan of vintage fashion myself, but can you imagine sitting around a table at Starbucks with your girlfriends, realizing that your cell is ringing, and pulling out a big, bulky, walky-talky type phone the size of a shoe box?   That would just be ridiculous!  LOL.

This morning I woke up bright and early.  Before even getting out of bed, I went right to my devotional.  After reading the little story for the day, I pulled out my Bible and flipped to the scriptures it referenced.  Who knew that God would speak a "rhema"  Word to me right then and there?


LOGOS:   The Bible is the written, inspired Word of God.  We call that  the "logos"  Word.

RHEMA:   is the spoken Word --  The Holy Spirit takes a portion of scripture from the Bible, brings it to your attention and shows you how it can be applied to your life regarding a specific situation or need for direction.  We call that the "rhema" Word.

I like to think of "rhema"  as
 God's Word in 3D. 
  

It comes popping right off the page at me.  Without a doubt, I know that God is speaking directly to me and no one can convince me otherwise!

There I was reading Matthew 12:28-30...

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden

and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and 

learn from Me.  For I am gentle and lowly in heart

and you will find rest for your soul.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The first thing I noticed was that God was calling Me -- to Himself.  "Come to me!"   He pointed out that how I do things tends to be labor-some.  It's hard work and it can be stressful and pressure packed.  It's only a matter of time before I'll burn out.  He doesn't want that!

He took a moment and assured me 

that He was not only the source of my rest, 

but that He had a better way of doing things.  

Believe it or not, He really doesn't need me to work as hard as I do.  That could be a coverup for the fact that I'm actually trying to make something happen, instead of trusting that He will move divinely.   Now there's something to ponder.

To be honest, I haven't done much of anything for a while.  He's closed every door and unwound me of my ways.   Now,  He's asking me to try on a new piece of equipment -- a yoke --  His yoke.  He says that He'll teach me how to use it.  Not only that... He says this new yoke will make things easier. 

A yoke  is  a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.

Of course, God isn't asking me to literally put on a wooden yoke... but figuratively speaking, if I am to be used, by Him, just how is it that He will guide and direct me?  Apparently there is a spiritual harness that He wants to apply to my life.

Immediately, I was reminded of Stepping Out in RED shoes - Day 9 -- "The Decision."  Remember when the angels released me from the bulky, football-like, shoulder gear?   He took that old apparatus off, and now intends to replace it with new, lighter, more sophisticated equipment.   I am continually asking Him to lead and guide me.  That said, I'll be the first to admit...

 I need a yoke!

As I continued to read, He said that He was  "gentle and lowly in heart."    That means His touch is soft,  kind,  easy,  patient,  warm and inviting,  loving -- not harsh -- not demanding.  (Okay...  maybe that's a little different than my style.)   "Lowly in heart?"  means humble and simple.

If that doesn't have "GOD"

 written all over it,  I don't know what does.  

It's  God's signature style.

As if trying to sell me on this new look, He listed off it's attributes.   It's "easy" -- not difficult.  It's  uncomplicated -- simple.  It's not confining, but has room for me to breathe and move freely.   Ahhh!  He also assured me that it prevents excessive pressure.  It's guaranteed NOT to break me!  I like that!

He asked me to try it on and promised He'd teach me how it works.  As I thought about it, I realized that was His way of saying that "His ways are not my ways!" and that I needed lessons.  I agreed and signed up -- not realizing that class started immediately.

Lesson #1

The first thing you're to do everyday is get in My presence, worship Me and listen for My instruction and direction.

(NOTE:  emphasis on LISTEN).

Later in the day, I decided to go back and find Day 9, just to see what God had said that day.   I shouldn't have been surprised to find this: 

"Be sure to check in everyday with Me -- on your knees -- and I'l train you for what's ahead.

That's all the confirmation I needed.  It's apparent that God has a specific job for me, and He likes it done a certain way -- so much so, that He's training me, Himself.

Today, I stepped into God's classroom wearing RED shoes... 

and a yoke!

Gail