Sittin On The Edge

and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  Mark 12:30

There are a few things that I’m ok with having just a part of.  I don’t mind mowing part of the lawn or washing part of the windows or eating part of the brussle sprouts, but there are some things I want all of!  Carrot cake, my favorite movie for the tenth time and baby giggles are just a few of those things I want ALL of!    As I read these words from St. Mark not long ago my mind seemed to get stuck on the word “all”.  Four times he said it; all, not part or some, but all.  After sitting with this verse for a bit I realized there was a lesson!

I think I’m often guilty of “how much will do” thinking.  I sometimes want to do things in a hurry with just enough effort to say I’ve finished but I can honestly say I don’t always go that extra mile with the stuff that’s not my favorite.  I can wash all the downstairs windows and rationalize skipping the upstairs windows because the boys aren’t living up there anymore so who will notice.  I can feel pretty good about sweeping  around the garage rugs instead of picking them all up, giving them a good shake and doing the job with full effort.  As I’ve been thinking about the word ALL, I’ve had to ask myself how many things do I just stay on the edges of without fully jumping all in.

Many times the past several days the Lord has gently drawn my attention to the things that I just puddle around the edges of.  I say I want to grow in my knowledge of Scripture but what have I really done to make that a reality?  I say I want to get healthy and loose weight but have I gone all in to make the necessary changes, or do I just want to do a few things and pout because the result isn’t what I’d like.  I can say I want to see others with eyes of mercy instead of eyes that judge but am I really prayerfully trying to make those changes?  I can say I want more time to read things that fill my soul with goodness but how many minutes a day do I waste scrolling through Twitter and Face Book?  I can say I want to do more acts of service and charity but what am I actually doing to serve?  If all my thoughts remain just thoughts, I’ll continue to skirt the change and hover on the edge.  I don’t think that’s the best plan!

Christ reveals himself to us in several ways and Scripture is one of them.  I think in this verse he had a lot to reveal to me.  I’ve spent the better part of two weeks thinking and praying about how   giving him my ALL connects to the silly things I can’t seem to get right here on earth.  Seriously, if I can’t go all in with the fruits and vegetables or with the off button on my computer how can I expect to ever be able to love him with ALL my heart, soul, mind and strength?  I got a little rattled just thinking about the consequence of living my faith on the edge instead of all in!  It was right at that moment of; “holy cow, I’m in big trouble”, that he made me realize the two are intimately connected.  Learning to go all in with things of earth is how we learn to go all in for him.  If I were to offer each of those tasks I’m on the edge of to him as an act of love, he will meet me where my strength ends and carry me through the tough parts with his mighty strength.  I need to trust that his power is more than enough and his grace is sufficient.  I have to ask him to meet me in those situations where I’m on the edge and ask him to walk with me and help me give my all…for HIM not for me!  Sounds simple doesn’t it!  I’m ready to get off the edge, go all in and make some things happen.  How about you?

A Seed To Plant:  Make a list of the things you’re on the edge of?  Lift those things up the the Father and ask him to help you go all in!​

Blessings on your day!