To DO or Not to DO - That is the Real Question!

I have been remiss in the discipline of getting to this balm that has been an aid to my healing and health.

This morning I was working through the first chapter of James.
( and I do mean working )
I started by trying to count the various trials in my life as joy .... that is not an easy one. (verse 2)
I loved focusing on the all the good and perfect gifts in my life as coming down from the Father of Lights, who does not change like the sifting shadows. (verse 17)

But then I came to "Listening and Doing".
Ouch.
Tender subject.

James says this, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry for anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

James goes on to say,
Do not merely listen to the word
.....................................................................
and so deceive yourselves
.....................................................................
Do what it says.
OK James. Now you are meddling. I could not read any further. I had to stop and memorize these words. I wanted to get verses 19 through 22 into my mind and then write them on my heart.

I started asking myself just how long and how much I had been deceiving myself by just listening to God's Word. How comfortable I made myself just letting His words roll off me like a gentle rain falling against my face on summer day. Taking the refreshment but not the nourishment, think to myself, Here I am again God, listening to your words .... My! Aren't these words comforting! My! Aren't these words powerful! My! Aren't these words challengeing!

Listening! Just listening to them and never doing them leads us to deceive ourselves. Maybe we start thinking we are "super spiritual" after all I am "in the word!" Maybe we start thinking the opposite, "These words are just that, "words!" They haven't brought any change, any real change into my life. I am still the same frightened, passive aggressive, depressed, messed up person that I was before I heard these words. Nothing has changed.

With either of these responses, we are still deceived. The change only happens when we "do" the word.

I am starting over with James 1.19-22.

I am going to ( with God's help) do. I want to be a doer. I want to drink the rain and let it bring nourishment to the word that He has planted in this heart.

At least I don't have to worry about the outcome. All of that is in His hands.

Thank you God for your steadfast and unending love for me and everyone else in this world of yours.

May your face shine upon my family today. May we know your love. May we be free from the tyranny of the urgent and free to dream with the imagination that you have given your children. May we be and do what is pleasing in your sight.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord! God of power and might! Heaven and earth are truly filled with your presence. Hosanna!!!!!