Day 195- Thankful I don’t have to wear a mask with God

This morning my daughter and I had to get up early for a trip to a new physical therapist that specializes in treating TMJ.  She had been scheduled for a Zoom consultation, but when they found out that we live in a different state, we had to reschedule for a face-to-face visit.  The therapist did take video of how her jaw moves during the shortened Zoom consult so my daughter would be able to be seen without removing her mask.

It was our first time going to this place, but aside from passing up the parking lot and having to turn around, the drive there was “smooth sailing”.

Of course, we had to wear face masks in the building. The problem that I encounter every time I wear one is that my glasses fog up and I can’t see. As we sat in the almost-empty waiting room, I took off my glasses, and was surprised by how much worse my eyesight has gotten. I knew it had gotten worse, and I had called our optical office maybe a month and a half ago to see about getting an appointment, but the eye doctor was self-quarantining, so I let the matter drop. I guess I’ll have to try again.

Another thing that I found in having to wear the mask for so long was that breathing mostly carbon-dioxide does not benefit my system too well. I ended up having a headache most of the day.  I’m better now, thanks!  🙂

Just as our bodies are made to thrive on fresh air, so our spirits are made to respire the pure Spirit of God.  Is it possible that we sometimes try to wear a mask with God, as though we might keep secrets from Him?  We may not be doing it purposely.  But have you ever thought you needed to somehow get more perfect before going to God, to fix your problems yourself instead of admitting that You need His help? 

When we wear masks with God, our spirits become stagnant and don’t do so well.  Been there, done that, as the saying goes.  His Spirit is the “air” that we breathe, spiritually speaking, so cutting ourselves off from Him is like cutting off our bodies from the air that our bodies need to thrive.

Even so, we may think that we’re doing okay on our own.  We may be doing a lot of good in our communities, or even in our churches.  But what we don’t realize is that the Spirit of God wants to give us the power to do and be so much more!

And what we often don’t realize is that even the breath that we breathe is from God.  Even everything that we are able to accomplish is because God has enabled us to do so.

“Are there any of these creatures that don’t know
    what the powerful hand of the Lord has done?
He holds the life of every creature in his hand.
    He controls the breath of every human being.”  Job 12:10  NIRV

And here’s a verse that really surprised me when I read it a while back, so much so that I looked it up in several other versions to make sure I was understanding it correctly.

“LORD, You will establish peace for us, since You have also performed for us all our works.”  Isaiah 26:12  NASB

“everything we have accomplished has come from You.”Isaiah 26:12b  VOICE

“all we have done, you have done for us.”Isaiah 26:12b CJB

Ok, so talk about a blow to the ego….

Anyway, how about if we stop wearing masks with God and let Him breathe in and through us?

Today I’m thankful that I don’t have to wear masks all the time!!! 

I’m thankful that I can breathe real air so that my body can thrive as well as possible! 

I’m also thankful that God wants me to be totally truthful and real with Him! 

I’m thankful that He wants me to get rid of the spiritual mask and let Him refresh my spirit with His Spirit Wind!

I’m thankful that He already knows everything in my heart anyway, and He can handle it!

I’m thankful that He gives us breath and strength in our spirits! 

I’m thankful that everything good that I’ve accomplished has come from Him!

How about you?  Does wearing a mask give you physical difficulties?  Have you ever not wanted to share something with God?  Did it ever occur to you that He knows everything in your heart and that it is impossible to hide it from Him?  Have you ever noticed these verses before?  Have you ever felt the wonderful freshness of the Spirit of God washing over you?

 

Photo:  selfie of my daughter and me.  We didn’t dress up; sorry, it was too early in the morning.