EMBRACING FLEXIBILITY

I came across this article by Dr. Pat Ennis on her Unfading Beauty blog... such a treasure, I wanted to share! ~ Coree

When I think of the word flexible the visual image of an Olympic gymnast comes to mind—that individual is able to twist and turn seamlessly without effort. I know, of course, that the maneuvers require a steadfast commitment to the sport, countless hours of practice, and significant self-discipline. Do you know the spiritual regimen that choosing to embrace spiritual flexibility includes? For a Multi-tasked Woman it begins with a steadfast commitment to her Lord and her faith (1 Corinthians 15:58) and is, at the same time, flexible with His plan for her life (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Flexible, by definition, suggests the ability to bend without breaking, a willingness or predisposition to yield; pliable; or adaptable. It is the quality of being able to adjust to change and the capacity to modify our plans in order to leave room for God’s plans (1 Peter 5:5-6).

Humility is the underlying character quality that yields a flexible response. Humility is “a value that directs persons to stay within their inherited social status, specifically by not presuming on others and avoiding even the appearance of lording over another. Humble persons do not threaten or challenge another’s rights, nor do they claim more for themselves than has been duly allotted them in life. They even stay below or behind their right status.”1

A Multi-tasked Woman understands that to achieve flexibility she is to humble herself, seek to follow her Lord’s example in Philippians 2:8-9, and declares herself powerless to defend her status. Such a response, according to Proverbs 3:34 and James 4:10, is praiseworthy before God. A short poem by Lampertus Gedicke reflects the flexible spirit that the Multi-tasked Woman seeks to achieve:

Just as God leads me I would go;

I would not ask to choose my way;

Content with what He will bestow,

Assured He will not let me stray.

So as He leads, my path I make,

And step by step I gladly take,

A child in Him confiding.2

The desire to maintain control of a situation frequently causes an inflexible response from the heart of a woman. Eve began the process in Genesis 3 when she stopped and listened to the serpent . . . it will continue until our Lord Jesus returns (Revelation 22:20). Principles that help our Multi-tasked Woman gain victory over unacceptable control include:

· Recognize a controlling spirit is sin and pray for a desire to relinquish control (Romans 6:11-13).

· Assume responsibility for possessing a controlling spirit rather than blaming God or others (James 1:13-15).

· Believe that God supplies all needs . . . He does not need our help (Philippians 4:19)!

· Allow the Word of God to permeate the mind (Colossians 3:16).

· Focus on doing all to God’s glory (Colossians 3:17).

· Concentrate on serving others and channeling thoughts, emotions, and energies to accomplish the desires of those in authority (Colossians. 3:22).

· Demonstrate a willingness to change direction and plans if unexpected circumstances arise (Philippians 4:6-7).

· Model the biblical examples of women who displayed flexibility . . .Sarah (Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-13; Hebrews 11:11 and 1 Peter 3:6), Ruth (Ruth 1-4), The Jewish Maid (2 Kings 5:1-5, 14-15 and Acts 1:8), Mary (Matthew 1:18-29; Luke 1:26-38, 2:6-14, 17-19, 33-35 and John 19:25-27), Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-20, 24-25 and 39-45), and Anna (Luke 2:22-27a and 36-38).

· Run the race of faith, following the Lord’s example (Hebrews 12:1-4).

· Meditate upon the truth taught by “The Tea Cup”—a beautiful illustration of the importance of being flexible in the hands of The Master Potter.

The Tea Cup

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both like antiques, pottery, and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, “May we see that? We’ve never seen one quite so beautiful.” As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. “You don’t understand,” it said. “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, “Let me alone,” but he only smiled. “Not yet.” “Then I was placed on a spinning wheel,” the teacup said, “And suddenly I was spun around and around and around.” “Stop it! I’m getting dizzy!” I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, “Not yet.” Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening, and I could read his lips as he shook his head, “Not yet.” Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. “There, that’s better,” I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. “Stop it, stop it!” I cried. He only nodded, “Not yet.” Then suddenly he put me back in the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, “Not yet.” Then I knew there wasn’t any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, “Look at yourself.” And I did. I said, “That’s not me; that couldn’t be me. It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful.” “I want you to remember, then,” he said, “I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you’d have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have any color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you back in the second oven, you wouldn’t survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began you.” God knows what he’s doing for all of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

As you consider yourself in light of the truth of The Tea Cup where would you place yourself in the molding process—are you . . .

· red clay?

· being rolled and patted?

· in the oven for the first time?

· being overcome by fumes?

· back in the oven?

· ready to give up?

· on the shelf?

Whatever your place, as you multi-task, are you willing to embrace flexibility and allow our Lord to mold and make you so that you are eventually a flawless piece of work capable of fulfilling His good, pleasing, and perfect will? (Isaiah 45:9).


4/1/2009 11:04:08 AM by Dr. Pat Ennis
A blog for Christian women who want to please God