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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Belly-Button Hindrances


I have a good friend that is totally "hip". Really "with-it". All the things I am not.

Well, I have hips...substantial ones. And my "with-it"...sounds more like something I'd say after I had been to the dentist and returned with my mouth numb...

I asked her permission to share this story with you. When it happened...hmmm, let's just say---the LORD spoke to me through it.

Lisa was having trouble with her back. Her neck. Her shoulder. This was tough---especially since she is a faithful gym-goer. She had been having trouble with "strength" ---lifting the weights. So she made an appointment to see her Chiropractor.

As he began to examine her, and question her, he maneuvered her for a response to her reflexes, testing her resistance, and he noticed the weakness on one side. "Lisa", he said with a questioning tone, "do you have a belly-button ring?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do". She replied--she was, after all very "hip and with-it", and loved her belly-button ring.

"Do you mind taking it out?" Dr. Carnes needed to prove what he felt was the problem.

After she removed the metal, he began his testing all over. This time, her body reacted differently to each maneuver. She had strength. It was almost like you had removed the cryptonite from Superman's space and his strength returned.

With a puzzled expression, she wanted to know why it made a difference. His explanation made perfect sense. The metal, or foreign object was interrupting the energy flow of her body. Something was blocking her physical strength. But once the hindrance was removed...strength returned.

Do you see what I saw? The instant parallel of our strength in Christ vs. the hindrances of the world came racing to my mind.

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is." Romans 12:2 NLT

To her, and many others, the belly-button ring was attractive. A symbol. But to her body, it was a hindrance. Might not have been noticed before. May not have even "felt" the resistance before. But at this time in her life...the change of the energy flow was noticed. She is only a few years younger than I am, but in excellent physical condition. I on the other hand, well, if you know me...you know. I am a bookoholic instead of a gymoholic. It shows.

After she told me this, I immediately told her, "you know this will have to be a blog". I smiled, already hearing the Lord speaking to my heart. Because He knows me. He knows the things I have been neglecting so long they are now "hindrances" in my walk.

"Examine your life Angie. What is blocking your "energy flow". Are you full of My strength? You know from your past experience what happens when you try to conform to the world. In order to fit in you allow things to come between what I desire for you."

Well, you could have knocked me out of my rolling chair with a feather! In my past I know there have been many times that I wanted to be a part of the world that seemed to be fun---so much so, that my decisions were warped. Poor decisions made an impact in my life that was NOT pleasant. But I was thinking...surely not now. Why, surely I am right on track...But after thinking this over....I can find things that need to be removed from my heart and life to increase my energy flow.

I took a phone survey and even polled some random ladies with a simple question: What are some things that we allow to hinder our relationship with Christ:

  • TV (too much of it, and the type of programming---we are what we feed our minds);
  • Busyness and/or obsessive housework (as in the Martha Syndrome);
  • Excessive secular reading (neglecting the Bible);
  • Unforgiveness (self-explanatory);
  • Anger (self-explanatory);
  • Greed (desirous of worldly things); and
  • Envy (wanting what everyone else has). Another late entry of the survey came in after I came home from work. It seemed the opposite of one, but when she explained, I instantly saw how it could quickly become a hindrance. Having a clutter filled house and life.

The first one listed was mentioned by more than one person. It deserved top ranking. The next ones listed fell as suggested by those I polled. They all fall in the category of being a "belly-button ring". So-to-speak. A strength zapper. If not attended, I think it could even cripple.

I have embarked on an "examination" of my life. I am on the table. The Lord is probing my heart and life for the unnecessary. I don't have any piercings other than my ears, but there are MANY things that need to be dealt with in my life. Things that left unattended in my life will drain every ounce of spiritual strength I have. Whatever it is, I can say with certainty, it has lost it's attractiveness---due to the consequences it is causing in my life. Time to remove my belly-button ring hindrances.

Father in heaven, reveal to me--to each one of us--the hindrances in our lives. I need to know. I want to see it for what it is and deal with it once and for all. Forgive me for waiting so long. Some of the issues may have been here so long they are deeply embedded. Remove them from my life. Pour in the peroxide to boil out the wound. I ask with all sincerity of heart that the anointing of the Holy Spirit flow through my life as a river that I never before experienced! Help us to reach new heights in serving You. I am Yours. Wholly and completely. In the awesome name of Jesus I pray. Believing in You~Amen.
Your turn.

  • Are you as close as you can be to Jesus?
  • Think about what might be hindering your walk with Christ. Resolve to take control of it and remove it from your life.
  • Make a list of hindrances. Share them with others. Shine the spotlight on the issues so that they are exposed. Exposure can bring about closure.



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17 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Wow my friend, this was very powerful. Thanks for sharing such truth, I love you.

July 29, 2008 at 5:47 AM  
Blogger kathie jane said...

I was looking last night for a verse that refered to "think" for my daughter. WOW this morning there is was.

Thanks.
Blessings

July 29, 2008 at 7:50 AM  
Blogger lori said...

WELCOME BACK.....We have MISSED these devotionals of yours...you are ONE of a kind...and the Cafe is blessed to have you back where you belong!!

One of YOUR best devos EVER!!
In the words of the "much younger than I," YOU ROCK!!

love you!
lori

July 29, 2008 at 7:56 AM  
Blogger Carmen said...

beautiful & convicting as the Word is and should be!

July 29, 2008 at 8:52 AM  
Blogger Becky said...

What a lovely post! It was so wonderful to be reminded of this. I need to refocus on what things are "blocking" my energy and connection with God. Thank you again for posting this and for reminding us to reexamine our lives and our walk with Christ.

July 29, 2008 at 9:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a mother of 4 teenagers I thought I'd heard everything about piercings but I definitely learned something new today!

I'm really amazed because God has been talking to me for a couple of weeks about things in my life that are "blocking" the flow of His life and power.

You know, Girl, this isn't the first time He has spoken to you and I about the same thing! Awesome word! And wonderful to hear from you again!!!!

July 29, 2008 at 10:58 AM  
Blogger Christa said...

Thank you

July 29, 2008 at 11:46 AM  
Blogger Technonana said...

Oh Girlfriend!!! I LOVE, LOVE,LOVE this annalogy!!!
We can't see how just much something this small or insignificant can keep us from what God wants to do in our lives!!!
Oh Yeah, and the HIP thingy... yeah, I got that goin'on too!!! LOL

July 29, 2008 at 12:53 PM  
Blogger Technonana said...

Oh, I forgot to mention this blog reminds me of the BELLY BUTTON song by the Veggie Tales!! Just to cute!!!

July 29, 2008 at 12:57 PM  
Blogger Sunny Shell said...

Hello Angie,

I'm new to the Internet Cafe (as of yesterday) and I'm truly loving my visits!

Thank you so much for being so transparent with us today!

I've recently been praying the same thing. And one thing God revealed to me was that I needed to stop needing a "title" or "job", you know a "thing". I needed to only trust Christ, live for Him daily by dying to myself and no longer be embarrassed when someone asks "so, what do you do?" I will proudly say, "worshipping, what about you?" :-)

July 29, 2008 at 1:43 PM  
Blogger Natalie Witcher said...

That was great. It really makes me think. Oh, and I totally believe the whole physical energy thing...it's freaky, but real! God so knows what He is doing!

July 29, 2008 at 1:43 PM  
Blogger Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Angie,

I just LOVED this post of yours! My belly button ring hindrances can be just about anything. I have the attention span of a gnat and get distracted just as easily. But my biggest hindrance might actually be the computer, the internet. Which makes me sad because I can sometimes feel the Lord telling me that I need to take a break from time to time.

Oh friend, I miss ya...and I have to disagree with you, you do not have big hips! You AND Amy are just gorgeous.

Love you, Joanne

July 29, 2008 at 1:52 PM  
Blogger marie said...

I just recently discovered the land of blogs and even more recently (as in yesterday) discovered this one. I truly appreciate the devotional today. It made me realize that this wonderful new world I've discovered could be a "belly-button ring hindrances" in my life. I've spent so much time the past few weeks playing with my blog & reading others that I've neglected quality time with Him.
Thanks for a powerful reminder to watch out for anything that may be hindering my walk with the Lord.

July 29, 2008 at 2:01 PM  
Blogger J-ME said...

I'm new here - just had to comment on this post. It's wonderful! The analogies and the chanllenge... thank you.

July 29, 2008 at 8:54 PM  
Blogger Melanie said...

Oh, Angie... this is a GREAT post! I know I certainly have a few belly button rings in my life that need to be removed. You have given me ALOT to think about... and I'm so glad you did!

Have a great week!

July 29, 2008 at 9:12 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Incredible. This post was really convicting for me and at the perfect time. Thank you for using your talents to glorify Him!!!

July 29, 2008 at 11:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post! Amazing that a belly ring could throw things off so badly! What a great analogy.

July 30, 2008 at 7:51 AM  

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