A House Undivided
“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”
As I was reading the scriptures today, the phrase, “divided against itself” jumped out at me. It got me thinking about the house of my heart. My heart, my soul, my body all are a home, a house where I live. Is it divided against itself? Am I divided against myself? In truth, I often struggle to believe I’m enough - good enough, kind enough, generous enough, etc… and when I do that, my house is divided.
When what I want to be and what I am is different, I’m divided. And sisters, I did not know or realize this for many years, but I have learned that when I dwell on those thoughts, it’s a form of self-hatred. I know, I know. Self-hatred sounds so dramatic, but that’s the clinical term. If I “punish” myself, if I believe that I don’t deserve good things, if I carry a defeatist attitude - that’s dangerously close to (if not) self-hatred. Self-hatred is sneaky and isolating. And we’re not meant to live that way.
We’re meant for the light.
Sisters, we can’t afford to let lies and self-hatred have any sort of a toe-hold in our lives. We have too much to offer, too much to do, and too much love to give and be given. We’re made new; we’re made new by the blood of the Lord, so it’s time to start letting go. It’s time to live undivided.
How do we live undivided? I’d propose that we let go of the vision we have for ourselves and our life to take on God’s vision. Sisters, it’s time to let go of how you see yourself and to latch on to what God sees when He looks at you. It’s time to let go of the unrealistic expectations you hold for yourself and start inviting the Holy Spirit into every moment. It’s time to let go of who you think you ought to be and simply be the woman God made you to be. We’re not meant to be divided; we’re meant to be whole. So let go of your own vision so you can take hold of God’s. When we surrender our vision for His, we’ll start living truly undivided.
Father,
Thank You for offering us a new vision, a better vision for ourselves and our lives than the one we create and cling to. Please help us to unclench our hands, to open ourselves to the vision You have for us.
God, we’re so grateful for Your care and attention, for Your love and mercy. Teach us how to live undivided. Help us get wrapped up in Your vision.
Father, we love You. Please give us Your eyes to see. Amen.