I’ve always had this thing for a new pair of jeans. I know for a lot of women it might be shoes, purses or even a new hair style, but not me. The funny thing is, I don’t even really enjoy shopping all that much. But I love new jeans.
So much so, that it became a bad habit for me about 7 years ago. An unhealthy habit that I’ve had to work so hard to break.
It’s not that I never shop for jeans. I do. But only when the need is there and I am not one to skimp on quality. I’m of the firm belief that a well made pair of jeans wins out every time. However, if I don’t have a genuine need for them I go to ridiculously great lengths to keep that habit at bay.
Let me just enlighten you…
A few weeks ago I needed to run to the mall to grab a few things. My list was short – four things from two stores. Easy enough. My dilemma came into play when the stores I needed to shop in were miles apart (aka, at opposite ends of the mall).
Here’s how it went down:
1) I entered the mall via one of my least favorite anchor stores to ensure that my browsing experience would be minimal.
2) Once I made it into the mall, I jetted straight to my destination store and purchased only what I needed.
3) I then exited the store and left the mall in the same manner that I’d come in.
4) I walked the entire length of the mall outside in order to get to the opposite end to finish my shopping.
Say what?
Yeah. I did this to keep from passing in front of any other tempting stores that would have wooed me with their window display and put serious strain on my wallet.
(ya’ll, I’m easily wooed)
…and now I share all of that with a little bit of an embarrassed, cherry red face. I mean, that’s just plain silly. Especially when this all has to take place in a rain shower!
Yet I have to pause and reflect on this epic display of Jennifer-you-have-no-will-power-and-I-pity-you-for-this-time-consuming-workaround – and rest in the fact that I can be grateful for the things that don’t require me to go to great lengths. I might need to take extra measures (for now) to make sure my love for denim keeps me out of trouble, but what about everything else?
How familiar do these little falsehoods sound to you?
“I can’t take the time to sit down and pray properly until I finish my list of responsibilities.”
“The five minutes that I have aren’t enough to get into His Word so I’ll just wait until later.”
“I have absolutely no time for a six week Bible study so I couldn’t possibly participate.”
But if God were writing this post I think He would sound a little something like this:
“Stop right where you are and pray what’s on your heart. No formalities required.”
“If five minutes is all you’ve got right now then it’s five minutes that can give you the peace you need and the filling that can be poured out to others later.”
“Who said a six week Bible study had to be done in only six weeks?”
There are weeks where I need to make a lot more time for God than this… More than just a five minute scripture reading, a quick prayer and there are times I want a formal Bible study with other women that fits into a set time frame. But realistically, that can’t always happen.
And that’s ok.
I have only to meet God right where I am. No great lengths required.
I don’t have to go to great lengths to be loved.
I don’t have to go to great lengths to feel peace.
I don’t have to go to great lengths to feel encouraged by His Words.
Jesus went to great lengths for us so that we don’t have to go to great lengths for His father.
And I am grateful that it’s just that easy…
*****
Today I’m linking up with the following authors to share my story:
Holley Gerth and Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer Dukes Lee for #TellHisStory
Simply Beth with Three Word Wednesday
Yes Works for Me – We Are THAT Family
Just love this- so freeing, thank you for your honesty and encouragement. Stopping by from Coffee for Your Heart. It was.:)
Thank you, Katie, for stopping by!
Loved this- how often do we believe those lies? I loved your encouragement!! We don’t need to go to great lengths to be with God. He meets us where we are!!
Jennifer – I know. I often used to think it was “go big or go home” and I know that I had it all wrong. I always thought “if I can’t do it justice, why bother?” – but that was the wrong idea. 🙂
I so enjoyed this. It is so true that we go to great lengths for certain things. And it is we, ourselves, who put that on ourselves. I am so grateful our Lord is the One who goes to great lengths to be with us, not requiring great lengths from us. Freedom to be found in this post. Blessings!
Thank you so much, Joanne!
Jennifer, I definitely get the mall thing! 🙂 I am thankful that the Lord me to your post through Holley Gerth’s link up so I could take these few minutes in prayer with him. Great post!
This is such an encouraging reminder of the incredible love of our God. He has already done the hard part. All we have to do is sit at His feet however that may look. It doesn’t have to be the same on a daily basis. The idea is that we draw near to Him on a regular basis in order to keep the relationship healthy. Love this post!
Thank you so much, Heather!
Jennifer- What a great message that God is bigger than any limitations that we put on Him or that we put on ourselves. And why do we enslave ourselves to these “rules”? Thank you for reminding us that we are free in Him. I’m always glad when I stop by your place. I love your words…and your heart.
Thank you for stopping by, Karen – always good to hear your encouraging words!
Jennifer, I loved reading your comical bout with jean temptation. And i think you showed great stamina to doge your favorite stores in spite of a torrential down pour. so kudos to you 🙂 I agree with you on this idea that only bigger is better when it comes to spiritual things. We always think that. That if we don’t have the time to invest than why invest at all? its funny though when you plant that mustard seed of faith, albeit small. It grows, it all builds upon each other. You find that five minutes might become ten later in the day and maybe cartwheel into twenty tomorrow. Its little by little. God always works best in our little offerings. Thanks for this reminder
Exactly! Thank you so much for the encouraging words. Loved what you said here!
Oh girl… so much Amen! I love this: “I have only to meet God right where I am. No great lengths required.
I don’t have to go to great lengths to be loved.
I don’t have to go to great lengths to feel peace.
I don’t have to go to great lengths to feel encouraged by His Words.
Jesus went to great lengths for us so that we don’t have to go to great lengths for His father.”
So Much Amen!
Thank you, Karilee! You’re always so encouraging!
I am in awe that you went to all that trouble and planned it out. Too often we know there will be temptation and don’t try hard enough to stay out of it!
Thank you for stopping by, Sarah! Oh, I know…I do some crazy stuff to avoid those temptations. I think it just proves how weak I am and how much I need Him!! 😉
I was smiling because jeans are my least favorite thing to shop for. hehe. But what a great message. I am so grateful He doesn’t require us to go to great lengths to be with Him. Blessings to you. xoxo
Thank you for stopping by, Beth. Hope you’re having a blast in Hawaii! 🙂