"Unwrapping the Graveclothes: A Journey from Old Patterns to New Life"
Have you ever caught yourself reacting the same old way to a situation — the same fear, the same anger, the same hurt — even after you've asked God to make you new? I have. This week God showed me I'm still wearing pieces of my old life, like graveclothes I haven't let go of yet. Here's what I'm learning about naming them, and letting Him unwrap them one strip at a time.
Graveclothes
“When he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the graveclothes and let him go.’”
John 11:43-44 (Italics mine)
Imagine with me for a moment how Lazarus looked shuffling out of the cave. Maybe he was confused, a little groggy and buttoned up tight from head-to-toe. He couldn’t even see with the cloth around his face.
BUT!
He heard his name, felt the breath enter his body, got strength to stand up and move, leaving death behind him.
This past week God has brought to my attention that I am still walking around in some graveclothes. I, too, have heard God call my name, felt His breath bring new life to me and have found the strength to walk away from what designed to bring death to hope and purpose in my life.
What if we could see the graveclothes we wear like Lazarus?
I bet more I would more than a little silly walking around with a strip of jealously hanging from my arm or a strip of anger hanging from my chest.
We cannot see them but they are there, hindering us as we live out the new life Jesus gave us. A new life full of hope, purpose, joy, peace.
If only it was that easy to notice those areas in our lives that still have us bound to death.
Others would see my default reaction to a situation and know I was responding out of abandonment and fear. They could help take that piece off and bring truth where a lie once lived.
Our graveclothes are lies we still hold onto. A false version of ourselves walking around like that’s who we are yet knowing that Jesus called our name, gave a new life and set us free. That’s the struggle of being a Jesus-Follower. Unwrapping the lies as we embrace the fresh air, as we take a deep breath and receive our new life.
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New Pathways
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
My brain has a well-worn path that leads to that familiar place of fear of rejection when I am faced with a similar situation. Or maybe it goes to the anger or the resentment or many other emotions and patterns.
I have the history, all the times I was rejected, hurt, angry, stored up that created those pathways. They love to jump into action and remind me of all the times in the past that has happened.
I, then, respond out of those areas that have me wrapped in death instead of the life Jesus died to give me. It’s a vicious cycle.
However!
When I work at not allowing all the proof to pop up and take over but instead make a new path and respond differently. Which, by the way, takes time creating new pathways. We can choose to unwrap the lie and walk in the truth.
That’s the transformation. That moment when I no longer respond in my default for a specific situation, but see myself responding with grace and love. God is so gracious to me.
He doesn’t leave me wrapped like a dead-man-walking but slowly unwraps the lie of rejection, heals my wound and shows me how much He loves me and wants to hang out with me! He walks with me through each strip removal.
Have you noticed that in your life? Can you name a few graveclothes, some lies, that still are wrapped around you? Have you found the act of making new pathways arduous and full of missteps and failure? It can feel like Odysseus trying to find his way home, facing one obstacle after another.
When we stay wrapped in the graveclothes instead of removing the lies and changing our default reactions by creating new pathways with God’s truth and reality, we are not able to walk freely into freedom.
I am grateful that, as I stumble and struggle my way through this, God does not throw His hands up and walk away. That His relentless love continues to fight for me - for my freedom - for my life completely free from the graveclothes and lies that I wrap myself up in.
Maybe, just maybe, we can be gracious towards others as they are still unwrapping their graveclothes on the way to walking in freedom.
Breaking Free From Old Patterns
Take a few minutes to name some graveclothes and then the truth of God that brings freedom to that area.
Then take a few minutes to thank God for His graciuosness and patience with us as we continue to walk through the unwrapping of each piece of our graveclothes.
I love you and hope you have the most amazing day!
~ Jodi
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