Clothed in Humility

Yesterday, I began with devotion time, but I did not dedicate the day to the Lord.“I” wanted to finish editing about 2000 pictures on my computer. “I” had a plan but God had another. Honestly, I was not thrilled about His request. His plan required me to get real and honest with y’all. So, here we go. This story is about some renovations He needed to make in me.

Renovations are costly, hard work and a pain in the side to live through. Some areas of my life have been under reno since late March

March 21, 2018, I had planned a trip to Knoxville to visit a friend during one of Kris’ business trips. However, plans changed. I was led to stay home and pray. Parker was really struggling at the plate. I went to the throne room to have a meeting with God about him and a few other things going on in our family. I came out of the throne with my tail between my legs. I learned that I had been selfish, unkind and proud. Ouch! I received spanking #1.

“MY SON, DO NOT MAKE LIGHT OF THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, AND DO NOT LOSE HEART and GIVE UP WHEN YOU ARE CORRECTED BY HIM; FOR THE LORD DISCIPLINES and CORRECTS THOSE WHOM H E LOVES, AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES and WELCOMES [TO H IS HEART].” You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
‭‭HEBREWS‬ ‭12:5-7‬ ‭

Sparking#2 came via a text video. I received it out of the blue. It was about not being judgmental from my one and only niece. She had no clue what I was being taught on that day.

I continued in the presence of the Lord. I asked if I needed to fast about Park’s and the other things I had taken to the throne. Later the same night, I was reading a book and I received my answer. The author suggested fasting from criticism for 24 hours. I knew with out a doubt I was supposed to fast criticism and judgement for the next 100 hours. 😳uch! Spanking #3 for the day.

I decided to go to the Word and pick up some tools to help me fast and with my renovation. Since I had been unkind, proud, and judgmental, I needed to change. Here are the scriptures God gave me:

1. Do not let unwholesome [worthless.] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness] BE KIND to one another, forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” EPHESIANS‬ ‭4:29, 31-32‬ ‭AMP‬‬
2. …Put on kindness and humbleness. Colossians 3:12
3. God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. James 4:
4. …Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5

The word clothed in this verse means to “gird yourself in service garb.” Slaves back then wore a white apron to serve. Jesus put on a white servants towel before he washed the disciples feet in John 13:4. The Holy Spirit directed me to tie a white hanky to my pretty new bag to remind me of His Word. ( I have humbly witnessed the meaning of the white hanky to a few people, too. Very humbling.)

My prayer became: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.PSALM‬ ‭19:14‬ ‭

People and situations have entered my life that are like finger nails on a chalk board. I havre tried to avoid them, but Jesus did not avoid me. Did he? Well, I ran into these people and situations over and over this last month. I was so blessed practice my lessond:

1. Be kind.
2. Keep your mouth shut.
3. Be humble
4. Don’t judge.
5. Don’t criticize.

Just when I thought I might get to take the servants hanky off my bag, the Holy Spirit added one more project to the renovation of me:  Hold your peace

Peace in itself is another whole blog for another time. However, I understood holding your peace was to:
1. Keep your mouth
2. Don’t get upset.
3. Don’t let anything take your completeness in Him.

Earlier this week, I failed my final exam. I botched up. I dropped a bucket of black paint all over the renovation of me. I did not hold my peace. I was not kind in words. I judged and criticized. Sadly, I lost my witness in about 30 seconds. I awoke the next morning repentant. I called and ask forgiveness. I then got a couple more Holy Ghost whippings during my devotion time.
Reading through Mark 1, Jesus said “Hold your peace!” which means muzzle your mouth! He had just told me that the day before I lost my peace. Then this post came up from 1 year ago:

When we fail to remember what it cost Jesus to save us, we tend to treat our salvation cheaply and with disregard.

Jesus’ naked body was flaunted in humiliation before a watching world. His flesh was ripped to shreds; His body was bruised from head to toe; He had to heave His body upward for every breath He breathed; He was in constant excruciating pain. Blood drenched Jesus’ face and streamed from His hands, His feet and from countless cuts and gaping wounds from the scourging he took. The cross was a humiliating, disgusting, repulsive, nauseating, stomach-turning sight.
-Rick Renner

Think about that before we choose to sin! He chose to take it for you and I. Why do we so so easily not choose Him every time? If we choose sin, we are not choosing Him in that moment. How can we so easily turn our backs on Him?

I sinned! I chose to sin. Thank God for Jesus. His blood poured out for me erased the spill of my black words of sin. I was washed white as snow. See, I am not perfect, but in Him I am whole, healed, complete, forgiven and in peace.

I am now choosing to be kind, to be clothed in humility and to hold my peace. It is costly, hard work and painful to crucify the flesh and to undergo renovations. However, keep up the renovations Holy Spirit. I still have lots to learn. Eventually, I will look just like you! Let’s do this again.

I found this little 99 cent bracelet at Michael’s on the day after I didn’t hold my peace. Just another helpful reminder.