You Cannot Give Away What You Do Not Have

You cannot give what you do not have but don’t judge others for doing the same. We operate our relationships in the realm of what we have known and experienced...good and bad. Unforgiveness disguises itself as protection. We build fortresses around our hearts and live in perpetual fear of true intimacy. Its seems easier to live this way. Never let them see you sweat, that was my favorite. You learn the lesson early that your vulnerability to some is like blood in the water to sharks. So you learn to swim in a cage. But then you find that you are living your life in reaction to sharks. Always looking to avoid being hurt always waiting to be let down to head off the shock of it. You find yourself living small. There is an enormous ocean of people and experiences waiting for you but you are left in your self-imposed cage, unwilling and sometimes unable to get out by yourself. Then you hook up with others who live in cages and it feels good for a while but it never lasts, because the very thing that put them in their cages will come back to bite you. And the cycle continues. Be careful dealing with wounded people when you yourself are wounded. Hurting people hurt people and the hurt will be twice as bad if you do not deal with your own issues.

In our alone time with God He shows us who we really are. Not the persona we have perfected as a false sense of protection. Our challenge is to lay down the need to protect “me” and just….. “be”. And in doing so we release others to be who they were created to be because the ones in relationship with us will now don’t have to worry about being bitten by the sharks of our past. In my quiet time with God after I have laid all my complaints and issues before Him…He reminds me lovingly of this and I know it to be true.

Matthew 7:3-5 NIV

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Ouch! That smarts at first but here is the deal…we struggle with the lower part of our beings as Christians because we are human but we accept instruction from God because we are spiritual beings that are connected to Him. As always it is a choice. God wants us to deal with our own issues so we can see clearly to help others with theirs….that’s all.

Jesus is guiding us, molding us, shaping us and waiting for us to love one another as He loves us.

It’s funny….I had forgotten I had written these words until the Lord brought this back to my attention today. I am so thankful that He gives refresher courses when we need it.

John 14:26 KJV

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Forgive yourself first and then give away that which you have obtained……forgiveness.