Genie In A Bottle

Click on the Genie's Lamp pic for a special treat!

Here I go again carbon dating myself, admitting to watching an originally aired episode of I Dream of Jeannie. But in the show, all a person had to do was rub the genie’s bottle and make a wish and Jeannie would grant it.

Now, I never understood why Major Nelson always had a problem doing that. He also chastised Jeannie for bobbing her head and granting her own wishes. It wasn’t until I was older (watching in reruns) that Major Nelson didn’t want to USE Jeannie.

Then I had an epiphany, “Have I been using God as if HE were a genie in a bottle?” Um…yeah I was! I had a genie in a bottle mentality. Whenever I needed a quick fix or if I was in a self-induced dilemma or peril, I’d grab my bible and get to making my wish list and start rubbing. I didn’t even bother to open it; I would just hold it and pour out my “honey-do” list for the LORD.

God knew how much of a fool I was but He still looked out for me. I wasn’t sincere in my request for God’s intervention; all I wanted was to get a quick solution to a problematic situation that I created myself by not staying in the presence of God. I lived my life according to my own rules and regulations. I came and went as I pleased. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and as soon as my little world started to crumble, I’d play Aladdin trying to rub the tarnish off that lamp.

It’s so easy to get lax in our walk with God. When things are looking good for us we don’t think we need to look for God. We get sidetracked and swept up in our so-called blessings; we may give God his due then we’re right back to our regular ol’ grind expectancy. Expecting God to bob His head and magically make our lives perfect and carefree.

You know, God is so good…His unfailing mercy and grace. Nothing we can do by our own works could merit the blessings we receive from Him. He blesses us because that’s His character; He is love abounding in grace. Not because WE GRIP a bible in our hands and demand Him to fix our messes, but because He has us in HIS GRIP, never leaving us nor forsaking us. Amen?

#genie #Lord #lamp #wishes #women #somsistahs #soms #encourage #writing #blogging #blog #sistas #sistahs