There is a peace promised by God to those who love Him, a serenity that flows from letting Him lead in the dance of life. Do you know how to dance with Him?
Many years ago, I thought that learning to swing dance with Bev would be fun. “Take dance lessons,” I thought to myself, “She will love it.” Our instructors opened the first session by putting on a song and showing us the end result they hoped to teach us to achieve; two people, moving as one, gracefully across the floor. I loved the beauty of it. Alas, the connection between my head, my heart, and my feet is faulty. To this day, despite the desire, I have never learned to dance with grace!
The instructors of that class pointed out two things causing my failure.
First, I was self-conscious, too concerned with what others
thought!
Second, I was over thinking; trying to break down each movement into tiny parts
rather than just moving into the music.
There are real parallels for those who desire to live a beautifully Spirit-filled life of serenity and grace. Paul wrote - “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
God asks – “may I have this dance?” He wants to take the lead in our life so that we can move through the trials and successes that come our way gracefully, but we cannot know the best of His goodness IF we refuse His control. We might find the rhythm for a while, but then as we reassert our own control things fall apart.
It is a wonder to behold when you see a person fully give himself
to the Spirit, in complete surrender. He moves gracefully through life; through
disappointment, financial challenges, ill health, hurricanes, snowstorms,
traffic jams, and temptation. Yes, those who dance with the Spirit live
“grace-fully.”
I can really identify with the disciple, Peter. I am too much like him in my
natural self; headstrong and impulsive.
After Jesus called him to leave his fishing boat and follow Him, Peter
struggled for three years to get it right. Oh, he tried mightily but, most of
the time, things turned out badly. The low point was the night of Jesus' arrest
and trial. When warned of impending failure by the Lord, Peter insisted that
even if the other disciples failed, "I never will!" "Ah,"
Jesus said sadly, "but you will, Peter. Before the rooster announces the
dawn, you will deny me three times."
A few hours later as Jesus was being arrested, Peter pulled
out his sword and made an attempt at defending his Friend, succeeding only in
cutting off a man's ear, which Jesus promptly healed, as He told Peter,
"Put that thing away!" And, later that same night, in the grip of
panic in the courtyard of the high priest’s house, Peter was cursing and
swearing while emphatically declaring, "I tell you, I never knew
him!"
Fifty days later, at Pentecost, Peter was a transformed man in Acts, a man both
literally and figuratively dancing with the Spirit! He gives leadership
to the emerging group of followers of Jesus, explains the Scripture, preaches
on the street, and courageously faces the enemies of the Jesus movement. He
lives with grace and beauty through life.
How does the Bible account for the difference?
Acts 4:8 sums it up, saying "Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, ...
"
When Peter released himself to the control of the Holy Spirit influence and
started to move to the rhythms of Heaven, his life was marked by God’s
Presence.
When he came to the end of himself, when he was crushed
beyond hope by his failure, God came with the outpouring of His Spirit. From
that day, Peter danced. Yes, he made mistakes now and again, but he was a man
of grace and power, who spread the message of Jesus and life across the world!
God is asking you today – “May I have this dance?” He invites you and me to a life in which we are
‘keeping step with the Spirit.' Listen
to the music of the Spirit. Give yourself over to His lead. Be filled! And,
start to dance!
Here is a word from the Word – “So I say, walk by the
Spirit, (let the Spirit lead the dance) and you will not gratify the
desires of the flesh. For the flesh (natural person) desires what is
contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you
want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law (a slave
to old ways) … the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5)
Lord, lead me in the dance, making my life one that gives evidence of Your loving Presence. Amen.
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