Last weekend, at the lake, I saw this young gal on the top of a house boat dancing her little toosh off. I mean flailing arms and all. She was getting after it. She was in the zone. I couldn’t stop looking at her, while smiling and laughing. I wanted to go dance with her. The outward expression of pure joy and happiness was contagious.
Two thoughts immediately came into my head:
a) Man, that chick is hammered and it’s only 10 a.m.! (This assumption comes from my past experiences; I immediately associate house boats with a whole lot of alcohol because well…that’s what I did)
b) I can’t even begin to count the amount of times this past year we, as a community of believers on the World Race, danced around like a bunch of fools while having Holy Spirit dance parties; meanwhile, people probably thought we were drunk!
I realized I was quick to judge.
(I guess you could say I was convicted; I’ll explain that further in a minute)
That expression of joy is so contagious and mesmerizing because in the depths of every single one of our hearts, we all have a burning desire to live in that complete and total abandoned freedom. We all desire to dance around like no one is watching, without a care in the world.
For many years of my life I thought the only way to do that was with the aid of alcohol. It was a social lubricant that just took down some of those walls I had up. It helped me relax and enjoy myself a little more. It helped to minimize fears and anxieties about what people were thinking about me. It made me the life of the party. I would dance until I was blue in the face. I would sing at the top of my lungs. I was free as a bird.
It made me bold.
It made me beautiful.
It made me relatable.
It made me fun.
Until I woke up the next morning.
That was a sobering reality, and a moment I will never forget, when I looked into the mirror and realized I was nowhere to be found.
There was no joy. There was no hope. There was no life. I had no idea who I was anymore.
Those are days I never ever want to re-live, but now four sober years later, I get to tell you that I am drunk again!!!
I am DRUNK ON HIS LOVE!
I’ve been buzzing for two years and I don’t plan to ever sober up. He has filled me with His Holy Spirit that causes me to always dance, sing, love others and myself more than I could have ever imagined being able to do on my own. I wake up in the morning and love who I see in the mirror. I know who I am. I am His Beloved daughter. He adores me. He loves me more than I could ever comprehend. He is proud of me no matter what I do. He is always with me and He will never leave me.
IT IS SERIOUSLY THE BEST!
(Side note: The Lord took me to the scripture in Acts 2 during the day of the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came a rolling in, crazy things started happening and all of the people thought they were drunk! Go read it for yourself. I am not making it up.)
So back to my conviction…I was quick to judge (I am sorry, I repent).
I hope more than anything that the girl was praising the Lord and having a Holy Spirit dance party on top of that houseboat.
However, the real question was, if she was drunk, would I still have really wanted to go hang out with her?
To be honest, my selfish answer is, no.
Not because I don’t want to, but because it is so hard to be around it when you struggle with it yourself. I don’t enjoy being around it because I know how it can and will subtly lie, kill and destroy. I hate having to fight the desire to want to drink. It is hard for me.
Underlying theme there: me. me. me.
This life isn’t about me anymore and the Lord quickly reminded me of that. If she was drunk, in the morning when she wakes up, she is going to need Jesus more than ever. Just because it is hard doesn’t mean I don’t need to do it. God saved me and I am supposed to be a minister to those around me. He will give me the strength to do it even when I feel like I can’t. He doesn’t call me to go around judging or condemning anyone, telling them not to drink. No, He just calls me to love His children the way that He loves me and that is a WHOLE HECK OF A LOT!!
I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit (John 15:16).
I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt 5:13, 14)
I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18,19)
I have tasted and seen and I don’t want to keep my mouth shut about that.
I think we can all be quick to judge based on what we think is right or wrong but I challenge you to judge less and love more. Perfect love cast out all fears.
Thank you Lord for your Holy Spirt. I pray more people in this world get drunk on Your love and Your love alone, forever and ever. AMEN!
Ephesians 5: 15-21 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
