Monday, April 20, 2009

Carefree abandon

Luke 12:21-23 (The Message)
[ Steep Yourself in God-Reality ] He continued this subject with his disciples. "Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

Recently, I had the pleasure of spending time with a 10 month old girl. We started playing a game. I was holding her on my lap and she would fling herself backward into my other arm. Then we would laugh, sit her up and do it again...and again. She didn't know me well, but she was not afraid. She did not look back to see if I would catch her. She trusted, with carefree abandon, that I was there and would catch her and we could play some more.

I started thinking. I want to live that way. I want to remember that God is a God of love and laughter. I want to know that I do not need to be afraid or look back to know I'm safe. I want to have carefree abandon that I know God is there. I want to be able to trust that God is there to catch me when I fall backward. God is ready to keep playing.

What's keeping me from living that way? What's keeping you from living that way? Let's figure it out....and climb in Jesus' arms for a game of Catch Me.

1 Peter5:6-7 So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.