Tethered to "Egypt"

Well, I'm not sure if anyone is out there, but God keeps speaking to my heart and I've been encouraged to pick up pen again (ok...not exactly cursive, but computer) and write.

Over the past two days the Lord has been reminding me to remain faithful in a hard obedience.  He is warning my heart not to turn back.

In 1 Kings 13 I read: "...(you) have not kept the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, but you came back..."

Tears fill my eyes even as I type that now.  Disobedience.  The Lord said depart, but there was a returning.

"But you came back..."

Was it really worth it?  Most often the joy in the moment of reversal then, diminishes later in the anguish of regret now.

Have actions indicated disobedience to a Word God has spoken over your heart?  Read and remember the directive He gave you.  Know His Word is unchanging.  Is it hard?  Following Jesus is not easy, but He will give us all we need to remain true to Him.

Later this same day I read: "...And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt." (Acts 7:39b)

Where was the turning birthed?  "...in their hearts..."

It's not only an external returning that God warns against.  Here we see an emotional returning.  Hearts still tethered to Egypt.

Oh how I know that "pull".  My life might be outwardly speaking obedience, but my heart is longing for "Egypt" and my mind in a constant battle.  Positionally I've removed myself, but mentally and emotionally my heart is still engaged.  If you've been there, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  Often, as John Calvin puts it, "The evil in our desire typically does not lie in what we want, but that we want it too much."  The more we try on our own to control our "Egypt", the more it controls us, consuming every waking hour.

As Socrates has wisely said, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

Lord, examine our lives.  Release us from our "Egypts". Give us strength and courage to move away from circumstances and situations that are in direct disobedience to the direction You have spoken to us personally, and then guard our minds.  Father, we ask You to bring every thought captive under Your control.  Unbind our tethering to "Egypt" and let us walk in tandem with You, yoked to Christ.