What's Your Shape

Originally posted on
September 26, 2011

Now, I don't mean your physical body shape, and I don't mean are you IN shape.  I mean what is your spiritual shape?  Let me explain.

Jamie Hovey did a great job the last two weeks teaching us about balance in our lives: putting God first, our husband second, our children third, and everything else last.  (Of course, if you are not married, God IS your mate, and, lucky you, your mate is perfect!)  She gave us some practical tips for saving time like  cooking up a month's worth of meat at one time and freezing it in meal size bags.  The more time I have spent meditating on her lessons, though, the stronger I feel that all the time saving techniques in the world aren't going to really make a difference if our relationship with God isn't in good shape.

I keep envisioning myself as a stick figure.  (Yes, I know.  Corny!  But bear with me.)  If the body of my stick figure is a circle -  if I am just fitting in time with God whenever or IF I get a chance as I "roll" throughout my day, I'm going to "bounce" around out of control "hitting" one obstacle after another.  If the body of my stick figure is a square and I am trying to give equal importance to every area of my life, I am going to get stuck and not be able to move.  When I finally do get moving, it will take great effort, and I will "clunk" along exhausted and frustrated.  My time with God is there, but it is jumbled up with everything else I have to do on my to do list. Ahhhh, but if the body of my stick figure is a triangle with the tip pointing upward, and the base being my relationship with God, followed by my relationship with my husband, then my children, then everything else....everything is good.  God is my foundation and I am open for Him to fill me up with His Spirit, and as I am filled He covers every area of my life.  My stick figure is then clothed and ready for her day whatever it will bring.  

So what shape are you?  Are you a circle just rolling through your day fitting God in whenever you get a chance?  Are you a square giving everything equal importance with your to do list and God is just one more thing to mark off as "done"?  Or are you a triangle with a foundational relationship with Him open to be filled with His Spirit to cover every area of your life?  When we allow Him to do so, our days are not perfect but they are more balanced for every decision we make, every thought we have, everything we do will be influenced by Him.

"Lord, help me keep you as my foundation today.  Fill me with your Spirit that you may cover every area of my life."

copy right by Robin Kelley

used with express permission