MEDITATION MONDAY: Spirit of God, Fall FRESH On Us

Short Cuts. 
We’ve all taken em.
I work at Starbucks. I truly love the job. I work a lot of night shifts, and know the regular customers that come in the evenings. Ed rolls through the drive through at around 8:30 every night for His venti Americano with cream. Nafeesa comes right before close for her venti whole milk 9 scoop matcha green tea latte. Shirley does not seem to go a night with stopping by for a venti hazelnut frappuccino. 

I love the customers and I pray that the Lord grants me His Spirit for His glory in my service there, both with my co-workers and customers. It is easy, though, to be sucked into the day-in, day-out, “sleepwalking” routine the devil would rather I work with. Planning out my evening shifts meticulously, taking shortcuts with cleaning the store, not taking time to talk to customers and listen to the Spirit is all in itself a temptation. And maybe that seems like a funny thing to pray against, but praying against that spirit of order and certainty is something I’ve felt so called to. Jesus’ Spirit is one of patience, of PEACE, and of joy and laughter, not of worry or rushing to “get things done.”
He is so lovingly showing me that a life trusting in His Spirit does not leave room for planning every detail. If a self-relied plan is what is taking up our thoughts, we often miss the voice of our Creator, who promises to guide us in the way we should walk, and who Himself knows the plans He has for us. And when we’re truly driven by Jesus Christ, Him-dependent, prayer and concern for “our situation” becomes for nothing but “His will for His sake.” His sake just so happens to be for our benefit, too, whether our flesh sees it as such right away or not. And because His will concerns His children, our prayer becomes that OTHERS might grow closer to Him in all aspects. Life this way is what we were created for: Relationship with the one who loves us more than any human ever will, immeasurably more than any routine or worldly crutch ever could dream of. 
In this way, idols often operate in the form of human autonomy, or dependence/looking to “things,” even routines, for peace and soundness. The pride that we can accomplish anything worthwhile without the One who brought us into existence; entered into a sinful world when He is perfect; died for OUR sins; is the key to eternal life. Yes, pride that we are “okay” without His intercessions…. we will end up searching in desperation for meaning, for we know that nothing satisfies the heart besides Jesus (Isaiah 58:11). And idols “are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them” (PSALM 115:4-8).
LORD JESUS, reveal to us the idols of our hearts, the parts of our lives we put above You. Lead us to repentance of these things, Jesus, that we would be more fit to serve You and Your Kingdom alone. Amen.