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.
So nice to see you and your daughter! So agree with your post! If I did wear a mask with God (which I’m sure I do sometimes) He can see right through it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Valerie! Amen, yes He can! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thankful that God knows us better than we know ourselves so we don’t have to hide behind a mask. We can be honest and ask for His help in the areas we’d prefer to conceal. ☺ Comforting thoughts. Thanks for sharing, Ruth. Enjoy your week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! He sure does! I’m so glad He is ready and willing to help!
Praise God for His comfort!
You’re welcome, Tina! You too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really good post!
I have not once touched a mask my whole life… and I don’t plan on it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Lydia! They’re certainly no fun! Where we live you can’t go to a medical building without them taking your temperature and verifying you have a mask on.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome.
Same here except I haven’t had to go to a medical building. Well, I did go to the dentist yesterday and they had to take my temp… which freaked me out. Never experienced that before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure if dentists are open yet where I live. You obviously can’t wear a mask when they’re working on your teeth! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right lol!!!!
Thankfully, I didn’t have to wear one when I voted today either!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did they have everything set up further apart than usual?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They sure did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the analogy, I don’t particularly like masks either and I’m very grateful the Lord sees the real me
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Brenda! Yes, I’m so glad we can trust him to love us in spite of our inner faults.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So nice to see you and your daughter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pené, for your kindness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The verses are timely.
Thankful we don’t have to wear masks to see God😄😄
I do hope you get a date for the optician.
Regard to Melodie.
God Bless
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, me too on both counts! 😁 Thank you, sister!
God bless you, too!
LikeLike
What an excellent post! Loving your thoughts on this, I actually have a post started on this very same topic and it’s quite similar!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Alicia! That’s neat the way the Lord uses multiple voices to get His message out! I’m sure your post will be excellent! You’re a very good writer! 💖
LikeLike
Since I have asthma, it’s really hard to breathe for any long period of time with a mask on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That must be really hard. I hope you don’t have to wear one very often.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, only when we pick up our groceries for now. Thanks for thinking of me. You are always so kind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! God has been kind to me; I owe Him the obedience of being kind to others by following His example.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautiful Ruth. He was to live in us and through us so that the words we breathe and life we live come straight from Him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brittany! Yes! Great insight; love the way you put that! 💖
LikeLike
When you talked about what we received from Him, reminded me of this sermon by Paul Washer.
Yes, we must understand that we need Him and we can do nothing on our own. We have nothing except what He has given us.
LikeLike
Sorry! Shorter link
LikeLike