Too Full For Comfort

Before I "blog" from my study today I have a confession to make. It's important to share this because of what my study is about. Normally on Saturday's I take the grand ones to visit my parents. Because Kaylin's other grandmother wanted her to be at a family cookout today we went yesterday afternoon. So I had the whole day to stay in my PJ's and do whatever. Not that I didn't get a few things done (I did sweep the floors and work on my picture books). I don't know what happened to the day but it just went by and before I knew it - it was gone. I had not done my study or had my prayer time, not that I didn't think about it several times (I just would tell myself "in a minute I'll get to that"). My day just has not seemed right and I know the reason why-after I did stop and do my study I really knew why. Why is it God always has a way to open your eyes for what you need to see? I don't really need an answer to that, I'm just glad he does. Now, here is my study for the day:

We were created for the fullness of God, not an ounce or liter less. But are we ready for that? After all, being filled to the measure with all the fullness of God will most likely require our being stretched. At the very least, it is sure to disturb our comfort. Are we willing to let God explode our comfort zone and expand our capacity for him? Or do we want a God we can manage? The trouble , of course, is that God doesn't work that way. He's not on the market in manageable, bargain-size portions. He's not on the market in the first place. And he's not looking for buyers; he's looking to buy-you and me. He wants a people who are sold out to him. He has already paid the price. His Son died on the cross to pay our debt and ransom our souls. But the transaction is never a forced sale-and that's crucial to realize. God is a gentleman, not a robber baron. We can actually say no to the Maker of the Universe. Martha's excuse was duty. She had cleaning and cooking to do. She didn't think she had time to sit at Jesus' feet. Perhaps your excuse is children or work. Or maybe like me, the only excuse you really have for devotional delinquency is sheer laziness. But whatever it is-whatever keeps us from spending regular time with God-it is sin. Does it sound harsh to say that cooking or cleaning or taking care of children or doing your job might be sinful? The very definition of sin is separation from God. So no matter how important the activity, no matter how good it seems, if I use it as an excuse to hold God at arm's length, it is sin. I need to confess and repent of it so that I can draw close to the Lord once more. Because the longer I go without being filled with God's presence, the drier and emptier and more frustrated I'm gong to become. (From: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World)