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slave or servant

August 4, 2016 by admin 26 Comments

HHH Slave_Servant

Slave: a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

Servant: a devoted and helpful follower or supporter.

I woke up early this morning, 4:30 a.m., I could tell I wasn’t going to be able to fall back to sleep but I laid there anyway for about 30 minutes. Sam was at the foot of the bed responding to my restlessness. Finally, I sat up, swung my legs over to the floor, reached for my glasses, and my…

That’s when the conviction struck.

So, have you turned into one of “those” people? Grab your phone before you grab for Me?

Mind you I’ve only had a smartphone for less than a month and already I have a love relationship with it. I also have a Kindle plugged in next to my bed – two electronics. Two time robbers.

The thief comes to steal…

And, before I even stood up I had this thought:

Are you going to be a slave to it or are you going to allow it to be a servant to you.

It was a defining moment. I remember years ago, long before blogs and smartphones, there was a gal who sent out a daily email. I believe her name was Laine. She was a blogger before the word was in our vernacular! She lived simply, had six or seven kids, she home-schooled, she was a stay-at-home mom, wife, gardener, writer, laundress, cook, bottle washer, bookkeeper, teacher, shopper, thrifty woman. She almost made me sick. BUT, I digress… She had this great term for all the conveniences she had in her home, for example: the crockpot, washer, dryer, bread machine, etc. She called them her servants. She would get up early, get right into The Word, and then afterward she’d get her household servants started on their day, serving her and her family. Pretty clever, right?

You see where I’m going?

ANY THING, that takes me away from the Best Thing, becomes an idol and I become enslaved to it. Lord, I don’t want that to happen with my new toy. I want my smartphone to SERVE ME. To help make my day better. Easier. Happier. I want to be able to step outside and allow it to serve me with wonder!  Pictures. Texts from my loved ones. Forwarded calls from my office. Encouragement for and from other like-minded believers on IG, Facebook, Twitter. It will be my servant, at my beck and call.

Any thing that takes me away from the best thing becomes an idol…

Click To Tweet

I refuse to be its slave. I refuse to reach for “it” before I reach for HIM.

IT will serve me.

I will not serve IT.

Refusing to be a slave…

xo

Related posts:

Words or Word

What I Learned in January 2015

 

Linking with:

Susan B. Mead

Crystal Twaddell

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Filed Under: Heart, Home, Hope, Susan's Musin's Tagged With: Encouragement, grace, heart, home, hope, life, obedience, wisdom

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelby says

    August 4, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Susan, this is so good!

    I love the story of Laine’s relationship with her gadgets.

    Mostly, I love how quickly you obey when you feel the Lord speaking to you.

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 4, 2016 at 3:04 pm

      Oh Shelby, it’s been a slow, agonizing lesson…

      Reply
  2. Tammy McDonald says

    August 4, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    I’ve read many of your posts… But THIS! Thank you for obeying and sharing in a day that you normally don’t. Lives ( including mine) will be challenged and changed!

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 5, 2016 at 6:59 am

      Mine has been.

      Reply
  3. Lynne says

    August 4, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    What you said is so very true. I can’t help thinking about our kids and grandkids who never knew a time
    when they didn’t have their electronics. It’s so addictive.

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 5, 2016 at 7:00 am

      It is such an easy habit to fall into.

      Reply
  4. Tara says

    August 4, 2016 at 8:13 pm

    Love!

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 5, 2016 at 7:00 am

      Love!

      Reply
  5. Messy Mom says

    August 4, 2016 at 9:01 pm

    This is spot on! I needed to read this because have been struggling with stuff that has left me wondering whether or not they have a hold on me. This really speaks into all that and confirms what I felt the Lord saying. Thank you for blogging on a Thursday 😉

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 5, 2016 at 7:01 am

      Natalie, I think if we really do a “search me O God and know my heart” kind of prayer, there are several things that “have a hold on us.” O! for grace.

      Reply
  6. Patricia Krank says

    August 5, 2016 at 10:15 am

    I am renaming all of my devices today! They shall now be called my servants.
    Thank you dear friend,
    Patti

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 5, 2016 at 11:35 am

      A.M.E.N.

      Reply
  7. Jerralea says

    August 5, 2016 at 11:27 am

    Love this! Convicting, but still love it!

    I also love the thought of our gadgets being our servant. It’s all in how you look at things, is it not? We are blessed to have all these things that are supposed to make life easier. (So, why isn’t it?) I do especially love the crockpot that I can give the job of having my food ready when I get home. If only there were a prep-servant! LOL

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 5, 2016 at 11:36 am

      Robotic prep chef???

      Reply
  8. Bethany says

    August 5, 2016 at 4:07 pm

    I LOVE this Susan!! Such a brilliant way of explaining this issue and a practical mindset for reigning it in to better serve Christ. Saving this one. Shared too! Thanks!

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 6, 2016 at 8:19 am

      Bethany, let’s keep the phones servant to us!!!

      Reply
  9. Michele Morin says

    August 5, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    Amen and amen!
    Thank you, Susan, for going there.

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 6, 2016 at 8:18 am

      Seems God is taking me THERE a lot lately. I feel like Jeremiah, the lamenting prophet.

      Reply
  10. Aretha says

    August 7, 2016 at 10:30 pm

    I’m definitely a slave to my phone! Great article!

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 8, 2016 at 12:42 pm

      Uh-oh…quick make it a servant!!!

      Reply
  11. Ali Battersby says

    August 10, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    Well I certainly can confirm the message that you received! Here it is 2:30 in the afternoon and I have not had my quiet time yet when I pray, read your blog and take some time with my God. I usually start early in the morning with my cup of coffee but today I had to run to Home Depot very early to bring back some paint that needed to be used this morning. So I missed my quiet time and finally I’m sitting down for a few minutes to take my Time with the Lord. In front of me I see an enticing magazine and just thought ” I’ll look at it for a minute”, all of a sudden I thought- “no I need to do this first!” And then I read your blog!
    Isn’t it wonderful when the Lord speaks so clearly to us!

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 11, 2016 at 9:27 am

      Ali, happens the “best” of us!!!! Can’t wait to see you.

      Reply
  12. Kristen says

    August 10, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    You go girl…

    Electronics are handy gadgets created to serve us and our purposes. It is amazing how they can take over and strengths then become weaknesses. Kudos!

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 11, 2016 at 9:27 am

      TO SERVE US!

      Reply
  13. Crystal says

    August 11, 2016 at 8:43 am

    I have to say, this is one my favorite posts so far! Maybe because I like having my toes stepped on:) Seriously, you have challenged me to evaluate some things!

    Reply
    • admin says

      August 11, 2016 at 9:26 am

      Thanks, Crystal!!!

      Reply

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