letting go of the thing-a-ma-bob

I decided I needed a new thing-a-ma-bob.

See, last year my puppy accidentally chewed up my old thing-a-ma-bob and I've been trying to manage without it ever since.  But this week, I really wished I had that thing-a-ma-bob.  So, I decided to go online and order a new one.  However, once I started searching online, I realized there were three newer versions of my old thing-a-ma-bob.

I was baffled. Which one was the right one to choose?  Which should I order?  I couldn't know unless I saw them all in person.  Unfortunately, my local store didn't carry any thing-a-ma-bobs, so I would definitely have to order online.

I decided I would charge all three versions of the thing-a-ma-bob onto my credit card and then return the two extras once I was able to see which was indeed the best.

But then...

I noticed all the bright and shiny whatcha-ma-call-its marketed for sale next to the thing-a-ma-bobs.  Ooooo, they were new and beautiful and would surely come in handy someday.  Perhaps I should order even more thing-a-ma-bobs and a few whatcha-ma-call-its to boot... just in case, of course.

Just in case I needed more.

Just in case something happened again to my thing-a-ma-bob.

Oh yes, I needed more, just to be safe...

... For those unforeseeable just-in-cases of life.

Suddenly my plan to order one replacement thing-a-ma-bob turned into an online shopping extravaganza!  And, whoa... that $25 bill quickly turned into $300!

Wait, what happened?

I'm only trying to store up for the just-in-cases of life.

I'm only thinking about how I could best be prepared for the future unknowns.

How could I possibly be expected to now whittle down this order when I so clearly NEED all these thing-a-ma-bobs and whatcha-ma-call-its for those possible just-in-cases of life!??!!!

Then the Holy Spirit flicked my ear...

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Realizing I had probably made a wrong turn, I stopped and began to silently pray, "Lord, I would really like a new thing-a-ma-bob."

Then, the truth was made clear...

"You don't need it."

"You have lived a whole year without it."

"I will provide all that you need."

Yes, I have lived without it... and for a whole year, in fact.  Truthfully, I have not needed a thing-a-ma-bob until recently, when I was reminded I didn't have one and decided I should probably replace it just in case.  But it wasn't really a necessity, now was it?  Clearly, I was the one who blew it up into a full-on NEED.  Sigh.  I do that.  On my own, I bite when the bait is set out.  I get snared in the trap.  I fumble and fall away.  "Lord, help me.  For I know only YOU can keep me safe, secure, and satisfied."

Folks, Satan loves to clutter us.  He loves to promote, and glorify, and peddle until our lives are so over-consumed and complicated that we forget our original focus and fearfully scramble in confusion to manage our own would-be way. Sure, planning for the future is rational and sound, but only to the extent that we continue to keep our eyes fixated on Jesus.  The moment we turn away from being good stewards of God's generous gifts... the moment we put our wants and desires first before His hope and trustworthiness... well, those just-in-cases burden us down and draw our eyes away from the Creator/Savior that has promised to always provide.

In truth, I didn't need a new thing-a-ma-bob, or a whatcha-ma-call-it either.  But rather than pray about it, I simply decided that my wants justified a need.  Not so.

I am thankful that the Lord corrected me to let it go.

It is so important to know and understand this lesson.  It is vital that through the help of the Holy Spirit we learn to distinguish what is necessary for us to flourish in His grace, verses what is a temporary and unnecessary distraction sign that was sinisterly erected to turn us off-course.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Friends, let us not fear or worry about what we may or may not have come tomorrow.  Instead, let us live trusting that the Lord will always provide!  Let us focus on today, wisely, and with our eyes destined toward the Truth of Heaven.  We exist solely to serve and glorify the King of kings.  To love one another and use everything He gives to us for that eternal purpose.  We do not need a side-plate of thing-a-ma-bobs or whatcha-ma-call-its to satisfy.  We only need Jesus... "and all these things will be given to you as well."

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to let go of everything that distracts me away from Your purpose.  All I need is you.  All I want forever, Master, is YOU!

Blessings!

Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson