Feeding a Hungry Soul: Prepare to Be Impressed

This is my third and final publication on the '15 minutes series' that started here a few days ago and continued here yesterday.

Day 1 and 2:
Slow down and make time for the most important meal of the day.

Day 3 and 4:
It's amazing what you hear when you are still and quiet for 15 minutes.

Today...
A look in the mirror...it's all about impressions.

When I was dating, the date was all about time with the one I was getting to know. Sometimes it was dinner, sometimes a concert or a movie, or often just time together at home or walking. No matter the occasion, I was always giddy at the thought of having time with my date. Time to just be with him, learn more about him and tell him more about me.

And I never...and I mean n.e.v.e.r. went on one of those dates without some prep time before hand. Whether dinner out or just dinner in and sitting on the couch together, it was a sure thing you would find me in front of the mirror, making sure I was prepared to impress.

outfit appropriate for the occasion? 'check'
hair just right? 'check'
make up looking good? 'check'

As I began this 5th day of the 15 minute challenge, I took this same approach. Take time to prepare myself for a date with God.

It occurred to me though that while my preparations for dating my spouse involved

putting on layers to impress,

my preparations for my date with God are more about

taking off layers to be impressed

..... by God.

God sees me for who I am. I don't need to make myself look good for Him with actions, rituals or primping preparations.

Instead, preparation for time with God means making sure I'm ready to remove layers I've piled on to impress the world or fool myself. The more layers I am ready to take off, the more prepared I am for God to impress His word upon my heart.

I began to consider what my 'check' list should look like for this kind of date preparation:

Attitude:

humble recognition of who I have the privilege of spending intimate time with?

Heart:

undivided? committed? surrendered? ready to receive instruction?

Mind:

focused? non-defensive? open?

Just as my prep time for those dates {ahem} years ago

required time in front of the mirror,

my prep time for my dates with God

require time of reflection as well.

After my 15 minutes were over, I opened up one of the devotionals I like to read on a daily basis and read this from Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest:

"....your life will be marked with the lasting imprint of the presence of God"

a mark made by pressure; a mark or figure impressed or printed on something.

any impression or impressed effect:

As I prepare myself daily to be ready to be impressed upon by the word of God,

His impression should and will leave an imprint in my life.

A lasting mark of change in my heart and mind that did not exist before I came into His presence.

God tells us this:

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ~ nkjv

16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,

are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Or as presented in the more expanded 'message' version:

16But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).

18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God]

as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,

are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor

and from one degree of glory to another;

[for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

As I giddily prepare my attitude, heart and mind for my 'dates' with God, He has already removed the veil so that I can be changed one 'date' at a time by the impressions He makes in my attitude, heart and mind.

Our recipe today is Prepare to be Impressed

The ingredients are from 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

The directions are to be ready to let God impress His word into your attitude, heart and mind so that His imprint can leave you with lasting change.

CLICK HERE for a printable version of today's recipe for the soul. Make notes on it of how God is speaking to you today, and carry it with you to feed your soul as needed.

Prayer:
Lord, I humbly bow before You, in awe of the gift You give of intimate fellowship. I confess I am tempted to put on layers of good intentions, good deeds, and puffed up self importance to try and impress You. Help me peel off these layers; prepared to be imprinted with Your words for me. Words of encouragement, instruction, discipline and direction. I want to walk away from every date with you changed just a little more. Imprinted with just a little more of Your glory. Impressed just a little more by Your presence. I come before You in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I'd love to have you at the table each time I pull up a chair. If you don't already, won't you join us?

Subscribe to Feeding a Hungry Soul by Email

Just click the link above, submit your email address and then

be sure to click the 'verify' link when the email is sent to your inbox.

After that, I'll be saving you a chair at the table!

God Bless and Keep You,