LEAN IN

The ‘concept’ of LEAN IN was shared with me recently by one of my cousins (who happens to also be one of my closest friends). I had no idea to what she was referring ... so I speculated for a bit. Our next conversation was MIND BLOWING for me! My speculations were off base, but this idea of LEAN IN just gripped my soul as Laura expounded upon it.

I’m discovering that to build any relationship, attention must be given to it. The deeper the relationship, the more attention that must be given ... and with any relationship, there is vulnerability. The deeper the relationship, the deeper the vulnerability. If we aren’t careful, relationships can be lost/are lost from the lack of attention and the lack of vulnerability given. This is true in any relationship ... including our relationship with the LORD.

All of the religious truths that I had learned, in by gone years and in recent days, have been merely adding to my knowledge. All the religious rituals were adding to my check list of things to do to earn God’s favor ... to earn “brownie points”. But something was lacking. Something was off. I hadn’t known what “it” was so I had no way of articulating “it” to Laura or to anyone else for counsel. However, as I have meditated/continue to meditate upon this LEAN IN ‘concept’, the fog has slowly begun to lift ...

LEANing IN is about connecting to another person on the deepest possible level. The soul. It’s about putting life’s distractions - cell phones/TV/social media/etc - aside and giving another our undivided attention. It’s about looking into one’s eyes and seeing their heart. I’m learning the same is true for our relationship with God.

To go deeper in my relationship with God - God the Father/God the Son/God the Holy Spirit - I must LEAN IN ... distractions aside ... through the study of His Word, daily prayer {not just a set time of prayer but communing with the God of the universe in the everyday things of life}, I must LEAN IN to know His heartbeat. Because He’s God, He already knows my every thought/word/deed/longing; however, I must let my guard down and become vulnerable ... through the fear and anxiety, I must be 100% honest. I used to think that I needed to “sugar coat” the truth to God ... but as I type out specific passages in the book of Psalms every morning, I’m seeing that God wants absolute transparency. Absolute honesty. The mind blowing thing is that God ... the God of the universe ... wants ME to LEAN IN to HIM.

In spite of my shortcomings and sin.
In spite of my self-absorbed disposition.
In spite of my background.
I have a standing invitation to LEAN IN to Almighty God.

So do you, Christian.

The questions for you and for me that MUST be asked are these:
Is LEANing IN a priority in my life?
If not, will I make it a priority? The God we say we love has made it a priority ... so much so that He died that we may LEAN IN to Him.
If we are willing to make it a priority, what changes am I/are you willing to make to LEAN IN to God?

The changes are necessary, but the freedom and the joy that come from LEANing IN are so worth it ...

LEANing In for His glory!