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I became a watering girl that summer.
Not because my black thumb suddenly turned green, but because my husband had ordered a heap of mulch and I was determined to not have a lame bare patch in the landscaped section of the house. No sir-eee! Mulch should be the accessory, not the main feature. My opinion.
So, in response to the mulch mountain, I drove my spontaneous little self to the gardening store and bought us some new bushes, a few flowers, and a tree. And I quickly learned that once all of said planty-purchases were in the ground, they required… gasp… maintaining so they could take root.
Totally cool, I thought as I strapped on my big girl panties. I can do this!
So I became a watering girl. Now, my sunny days often begin with the garden hose in hand. And I love it. The birds sing melodies in all their chirpy cuteness and the plants respond with claps of gratitude. (I seriously think they clap… in their own way. Moving on…)
Early one morning I unwound the hose and watered our small cucumber garden. Then I headed toward a few thirsty plant-friends in the back of the lawn along the fence. As I began to water, the flow trickled to a stop.
I looked up and spied the water-stopping nemesis. A kink in the hose.
So frustrating.
There was plenty of water. It just couldn’t flow because the hose had flipped and kinked. I tried to flap it out from where I was across the yard, but this kink was a good bit down the line. It required that I drop everything and address it. Once the kink was fixed, the water flowed smoothly, and the rest of my plants got their drinks.
What a picture of faith.
Just like a hose is connected to a water source, our souls are connected to the Living Water – Jesus. And though as believers we are always connected to Him and always have access to the refreshment and nourishment our souls need, there are times when kinks happen, and the flow stops.
I can think of a few times when, just like the hose, I flipped and kinked up the flow. Can you relate?
Our kinks come in all shapes and sizes. You and I get flipped over by disappointments, unmet expectations, other people, or simply by our own attitudes, unbelief, fears, behaviors, rebellion, or unhealthy emotions.
How can you work out the kinks of your circumstances and relationships? Depend on the strength of God instead of your own. Go to Him in prayer. Ask for grace. Align your life to the teachings of the Bible. Yielding to His Spirit.
The biggest of all kinks, however, is our own sin.
Pastor Timothy Keller said it this way; “The sin that is most destructive in your life right now is the one you are most defensive about.”
Ouch. Big kink. Right?
How can we work out the kinks of our sin? By confession. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10, ESV)
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17)
Got a few sin kinks? Sure you do. We all do. Some might stem from blatant rebellion to God’s will, while others might be simply NOT doing something you know you ought to do. Regardless, if you and I want to have a right relationship with God, we must deal with sin honestly. Nothing can separate us from God’s love, but sin sure can stop the flow of us experiencing the power of His peace, grace, strength, and joy.
The Anglican theologian Richard Sibbes summed up the good news of Jesus beautifully when he said, “There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.”
I. Am. So. Thankful.
What would it look like to let the grace of God work out your kinks today?
Dear Lord, I’m so thankful that Your mercy is greater than my sin. Please forgive me for ____________ .
You know my heart and You know my ways. Cover me fresh with grace today so I can experience Your joy, strength, and peace.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
Time to be a woman of courage! Grab your journal and list a few of your known kinks. Write a prayer response on the wall of my blog so we can gather in prayer as a community of believers.
Pray that the Lord would reveal some of your unknown kinks to you and ask that He would contend with you in those areas.
With you on the journey!
GWEN
PS. If you liked today’s post, you’ll LOVE my book, I WANT IT ALL. Get your copy on Amazon here.
Comments 8
For me, the kinks in my life are self-righteousness, bitterness, and pride. But the Lord has been dealing with these issues of my heart and helping me to confess, pray, repent, trust and surrender my heart to the lord. He is still working on me to make me what I ought to be..How loving and patient he is to me. Truly Gwen, so grateful that the Lord’s mercy is greater and more always than my sin.
Dear Gwen
Thank you for your kinks post .
I am struggling with unforgiveness towards an elderly aunt and my cousin .
Today my cousin and I take my aunt to a. Hospital appointment .
I am praying for the kinks of my anger and unforgiveness of past conversations and actions to disappear and for gracious , nice , compassionate me to reappear – nice me seems to have taken a hike and its rather unnerving …
I need God cos I’m digging deep and the well is muddy and wet and dark ..
thank you for your post
After my layoff, 1/29/21, I have been idle with my small, short, severance which ended 4/09/21. I admit, for the couple of months that have passed, there were pet deaths, sinus infections and a total lack of motivation to venture into the employment world. I know I should be fearless in Christ to move forward. After He made a way out of an unpleasant new role and a boss who thought she must continually “fix” how I interacted with others, the layoff was a relief. However at the ripe age of 59 and the Covid-19 work restrictions, I must say I am concerned. Concerned to the point, I don’t want to look. I had a work from home job since October 2019. I don’t want to commute again 45 minutes each way to and from work through downtown Atlanta. But I am thankful for everything I have and that, for a time, I am still comfortable. But I know I am too young to retire; but I just don’t want to play anymore. Please pray for me to get out of this funk and move on with the rest of my life.
My kink is definitely my attitude. I have two teenagers that are getting ready to go off to college. One minute I am excited for them and can’t wait for them to start this adventure! The next minute I am crying my eyes out thinking about them being gone and what in the world I am going to do with my life. I know God has a good plan for me, I’m just not sure what it is and some days I trust him completely, then the next day I am a basket case again! Please pray for me to be more consistent in my faith everyday! Thank you! I love your down to earth funny stories Gwen!
My biggest kink is smoking. I have smoked on and off for several years but it seems to be my go-to for stress relief.
Thanks Gwen I enjoy reading your life examples!
I appreciate the verse you shared in I John 1:8 I know I sin every day and my sins are always before me. I need prayers to see them quickly and confess them those kinks that can stop the flow of my connections to God. Sometimes it’s not being consistent in memorizing Gods words.
The kink in my life is worry and fear. I tend to have a negative attitude and the least bump in the road sends me in a downward spiral of negativity and worry. My husband is going to be taking a new job and working from another state. This change has left me depressed and sad. Lots of lonely nights in my future. Today, I’m choosing to give it all to God. I want to open my heart to all God has for me and run from the darkness I’ve been living in. Dear Lord, fill me with your joy today and every day.
Hi Lisa
Thanks for sharing I feel for you! It’s great that you made the decision to trust God during this time! 2 passages come to mind Romans 8::35-37 that with this challenge knowing nothing can separate from God’s love can give your comfort. Also pray that you are able to spend time with your husband maybe on the weekends or times that work out for both he can reward your faith Hebrews 11:6-8 I’ve seen this many times in my life!
I hope that helps!