Dear One,
I arrived in the presence of God today full of desolation, envy, resentment. It’s not pretty, but it does happen. As I sat with the Spirit I realized I was tied up in knots.
Or more accurately, nots.
- Not included.
- Not desired.
- Not ‘right’ in some unknown way.
I get tangled and tied in the (K)not enough’s as well:
Not enough money, time, schooling, strength, experience, influence, wisdom, etc.
I read in Wikipedia that knots weaken the rope in which they’re made. That the bending and crushing that holds a knot in place causes stress and leads to a reduction in strength. Sounds about right.
Knots are used to attach rope to other objects. And some knots are used to bind or constrict objects (or sadly, people). Hmm. Nots do the same thing.
My (k)nots limit, restrict, and weaken me. And they attach me firmly to lies and limiting beliefs. And sometimes, on very sad occasions, I use (k)nots to tie up others as well.
Jesus once asked a question to a group of religious leaders concerning a woman bent double for 18 years, (k)notted in pain, restricted/constricted.
“Can’t we untie her?” he wanted to know (Luke 13:10-16), loosen this knot and let her go? Free her from that which is inhibiting her life?
Good question, Jesus.
There are all kinds of (k)nots that keep us bound.
- Children not significant enough to be included (Mark 10:13-16).
- Lepers not clean enough to be touched (Luke 5:12-13).
- Widows not rich enough to contribute (Mark 12:41-44).
- Tax collectors not holy enough to be heard (Luke 18:9-14).
- Sinners not worthy enough to be spared (John 8:1-11).
- Elizabeth not young enough to bear children (Luke 1:5-2:21).
- Mary not experienced enough for the same (Luke 1:5-2:21).
- David not equipped enough to do battle (1 Samuel 17).
- Moses not skilled enough to lead (Exodus 4:10-12).
All of the above, and so many more, were tied up in (k)nots, some of their own making. With a word, a touch, a look, a prayer, Spirit untied them and let them go.
There’s a wide open world of freedom out there, but we can’t get there when we’re tied to here. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not so great at untying myself.
We’re told when Jesus saw the condition of the woman bent double,
“He called her over and gently laid his hands on her.
Then he said,
‘Dear woman, you are free.
I release you forever from this crippling spirit.'”
(Passion Translation)
Released forever from the blasted (k)nots. Ties that bind in all the wrong ways.
In Lord of the Rings, when his people were facing a mighty battle, Aragorn gave an impassioned speech. Speaking to the fear that threatened to wrap right around them, he emphatically repeated three words: “Not this day! … Not this day!”
Friend, when not-enough comes knocking on our own doors let’s answer with those very same words:
(K)not this day! … K(not) this day! Our Little Life-Words of the week.
———————
DEEPER DIVE
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Ponder:
- What gets you all (k)notted up?
Practice:
- If you encounter someone tied up in (k)nots, see if a kind look, an encouraging word, a gentle touch or an offered prayer might help to loosen the grip and set them free.
- Learn to tie (and untie) knots
- Get a massage to work out the knots you feel in your body. Allow the ones in your spirit to dissipate as well under the healing touch.
Play:
- Our song of the week is: Not Today by Matthew West
Pray:
- Take your (k)notted-up self into the presence of Jesus. See him see you. Feel the warmth of his gentle touch right on that (k)not. Feel it begin to loosen in his presence as he tells you you are free.
- Simply ask God to untie you and let you go.