Underwear. Under Where?

A little humor can also go a long way. Did the title of today's blog pique your curiosity? Whether you choose to wear them or not, there are reasons for dawning such garments if not for practicality's sake. But where could I possibly be going with this?

While most consider these garments to be 'essential', or at least practical, it is often taken for granted and not normally socially acceptable to discuss. No elaboration is needed right? Yet, how often the essence or practicality of a pure, holy and genuine response to God 'hidden' underneath garments of manipulation and contrived adornment and clothing, while all along our Lord sees through what I present to the world. In a sense, He sees all and knows all, and I try to fool Him and others with 'my take' on what a Godly life 'should' look like.

While it is embarrassing to be 'exposed', most of us wouldn't think twice about walking around in our underwear at home (of course discretion is needed even there). For in intimate settings of family and home, the rules are different than out in the world. Yet, God demands of me whole and complete intimacy; the recognition that He sees and know ALL, and is desiring for my response to fully recognize this fact.

My pastor this weekend has forged new thinking within my heart about God and how I try to 'manage' Him and my understanding of Him. In a sense, my heart was fully exposed to Him for what may be the first time, ever. I am a doer and to the many who know me, find public display of my faith and 'righteousness' as the fine clothes that speak of my heart, while all along, He sees into the complete and total picture of me. I am undone! My arrogance, my appearance, complete appearance, exposed (as it always was) to my holy and almighty God! This time, though, I can see, in desperation, why I need a savior!!

AND, I have one!!!

I find myself asking God to help me put aside all my expectations, all my preconceived notions, all my 'religious' practices, all my conventions of access to Him, yes, all the ways I try to manipulate Him as God, to receive and hear directly from Him what I am to do, how I am to present myself as a living sacrifice before Him, holy and acceptable which is my reasonable service of worship. (Romans 12:1).

I am sure He will continue to use many familiar forms of access, prayer, meditation on His words found in the complete Bible, and some of the current 'doings' in my life, yet I desire to live a life under where there are no 'secrets' from God (I try to fool myself into thinking I can hide anything from Him?), and, in fact, where I find myself standing exposed and 'comfortable' being all He has made me and will make of me. My desire is to be a man who asks of God, "Oh, I need your help to remove every blemish and impurity that is hidden (and honestly not hidden, but which I cling to) to my spiritually desirous pure eyes within me. Lord, help me find it...under where? Aha, there it is, and here you go. Take it, remove it far from me. Forgive me, and thank you for exposing it to my eyes, for Your glory."

Lord, take me today, and make the words of my mouth and meditations of heart pleasing and acceptable to You, oh my Rock and my Redeemer!