The other night I was sleeping. I was under the covers, but my arm somehow had escaped. Rebel arm…ugh. I have no idea how long it was out there. And then I woke up because it was so cold it literally kinda ached. (We like to keep it somewhere around ‘go ahead and leave tomorrow’s uncooked chicken in our room, it will be fine’ cold).
Somehow I was wrapped up like some sort of human burrito (I think I am hungry, because this is my second food reference in two sentences!) and as I struggled with the covers to make room to tuck my semi-frozen arm back in the warm covers, I heard the Lord.
“When your arm was out of where it was supposed to be, it was easy for it to get cold. If you stay covered, you’re warm.”On the surface it made sense in the situation, but it struck oh so much deeper. It made me think of the scripture:
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, Matthew 24:12 niv
It’s easy to get distracted. I mean it’s not our fault, it’s…life. Things come unglued. The unplanned happens without permission. Time runs short. Life is…demanding! So we give ourselves a pass when we don ‘t read our bible today. Or pray tomorrow. Or if we miss church – a couple weeks in a row. God understands….
Does He? Or does He REALLY understand? You know, that as much as we love Him (or profess to), He has fallen that far down the totem pole of importance in our life. Ouch. The truth can sting sometimes.
Here’s the good news. “If you stay covered, you’re warm.” Covered by His presence. Covered by His grace. Covered by fellowship with Him. Covered by His faithfulness.
You may have to untangled life from around you like pesky bedsheets that somehow have taken on anaconda tendencies. But it’s worth the hassle.
Get ‘tucked in’ with God. Prioritize time with Him. Get ‘warm’ again. And somehow our ears will perk back up to the voice of the Spirit whispering to us which way to go. We will be covered.
Nobody wants to admit this is them. But this is most of us. If it’s been you, just say ‘I’m getting warmer’ in the comments and tag a friend for accountability.
PS – I’m getting warmer.
