Entitlement= Enslavement

I wanted to share a bit about what God has been teaching me as of late. It's not something that I have mastered (if I can even use that word) and will never fully master/understand until God's work is complete in me when He returns. A few weeks ago at church Matt (our pastor) spoke on one of our core values at church: footwashing (aka- service, servanthood, humility, etc). That sermon really hit home to me and I felt so stirred and challenged by God.

I feel like God is showing me how much life really isn't about me. I know, I know, you hear that all the time if you go to a Christian church, but it truly is hard to understand that this life that we are living on earth isn't about us, when everything that surrounds us tells us it is. The truth is we were created to glorify God and to live a life that reflects Christ- service, humility, joy, otherness... The scripture below really sums up this truth I am trying to convey.

"He is the image of the invisble God, the first born of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authrorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1: 13-20

Our purpose as God's creation is to glorify and to elevate God's name. It's not about me, what I want, my schedule, my time, my money and so on. Everything I own is His...including my life, which is not my own.

At one point during this sermon, Matt said, "The more you say mine, the more you are a slave" and I was like, "Ouch.." This statement to me is so true...which is why I chose the title for this post. I have to understand that everything that I believe to be "mine" is a gift from God. When I begin to claim these gifts as my own...and when I begin to believe that I am entitled to them I am believing lies. Not only that, but when life doesn't go my way and when the things that I believe are my own are taken away...how am I going to respond? That is the real test...
I just feel so convicted of claiming things to be my own. It gets tiring. Does that even make sense? It's so liberating to just realize that everything this is His. oooooooo weeeee.

God is calling me to live a life with open hands, not tight fists that only desire to do things for myself. I need grace and strength, but I know God desires for me to be this way and if I ask him for the ability to live life as a gift and with open hands to serve, then he will give this to me (1 John 5: 14-15). That's good thing because you know I am selfish and just want to do what I want.

If you have made it this far...thanks for reading! I just wanted to share a bit of what's going on with me, but I'm kind of all over the place with my thoughts. No, it's time for a bit of chicken spaghetti if you know what I'm saying. Bye!