My husband and I bought a ‘project house’ close to two years ago and we are slowly seeing it take shape. It has required the tearing down of some walls and the peeling back of many layers as we (mainly hubby!) re-build and restore our house.
God has really spoken to me through the process of renovating.
For the past couple of months, I have felt the Holy Spirit say he is rebuilding me to ensure I have a strong foundation, so I won’t crumble and fall when difficulties or opposition may occur. However, before the re-build and restoration can occur, the tearing down and peeling back must take place.
Tearing down
Tearing down sounds a little rough right!? But if viewed in a positive light it can be exciting. For example, whenever tearing down occurs in our house it usually means progress and change is on its way!
Tearing down the walls may mean different things to different people, but for me it has been the tearing down of rigid ‘spiritual’ walls I have erected between myself and God. Religious attitudes, beliefs and ideas I have had without even realising and mental strongholds that have been deeply entrenched in my mind are slowly coming crashing down.
As I continue to study the Word and renew my mind according to the truths and being guided by the Holy Spirit I sense the rigid bricks coming loose.
Peeling back
Peeling back for me has meant the layers of self. Much like when you start sanding back old paint- sometimes there are a couple of different colours and you’ve got to sand it right back to the original material before re-painting it if you want to have a beautiful result.
So, I have been stripped back of the layers I have plastered on myself. Asking myself who am I really? Without realising it I’ve had pre-conceived ideas of this, based on what I’ve thought, what others have said about me, self-imposed expectations and seeking my worth and value from the world and not God!
Let God re-build and re-store
I’ll admit the tearing down and peeling back can be confronting. Sometimes stripping back a layer reveals more layers you didn’t even know were there.
Not realising that things (like thoughts, ideas and attitudes) need to be stripped back can leave you feeling exposed, vulnerable and humbled.
But I encourage you that if you sense the Holy Spirit is doing a work in you, don’t resist by putting up more walls, let them come crashing down!
I am in the midst of this and already know the Spirit is beginning to re-build and restore so I can be strong in my faith and a mature believer. But much like our house, this takes time!
Our identity needs to come from who we are in Him, where we get our sense of value and worth needs to come from Him, but we need to open ourselves up fully to Him and allow Him in. We are indeed his precious children, his love for us is ever expansive and never ending and there is so much more he has for every one of us.
Isaiah chapter 54 verses 11 and 12
…I will rebuild you on a foundation of sapphires and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels. I will make your towers of sparkling rubies and your gates and walls of shining gems.
Stripping back by Jo Fuller
Tearing down the walls, peeling back the layers.
The labels we put on, the lines we draw,
Box us in, rigid, to conform.
The world and its ways are screaming for our attention,
To distract, to do, or to delay.
Yet you have called us to live a different way.
Tearing down the walls, peeling back the layers,
Scrubbing the spots, washing the dirt.
Stripping back, ignoring the slayers.
Until there is just you and me,
To make me and mould me into all I can be.
Jo Fuller lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with her husband, son and baby daughter. She loves to read and write, drink tea and spend time with her family.
Her archive of articles may be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jo-fuller.html