The Vacuum Cleaner Dreams
Good morning!
I had the same experience again, with the same issues of feeling incompetent and out of place. I told myself that no one would want to talk to me at the convention, and what would I have to offer anyway. My mind was tired and blank.
I gleaned a handy illustration from a dream I had.
The things I was realizing were a part of the next step to Restore the Spark of Life in Life…
#192 The Vacuum Cleaner Dream James 1.21
I had a dream that my vacuum cleaner wouldn't work. No suction. I realized it was clogged and that there were long strong nylon like ropes or cords that were stuck in the brushes and up through the hose. I pulled them, and kept pulling and pulling until they were finally out. It took a long time. And then the vacuum cleaner worked great.
It occurred to me that this vacuum cleaner dream could contain a lesson for me. It was stuck, and I was stuck. The vacuum cleaner reminded me of a “story-remover.” There are some long, strong cords of interpretation and belief that are clogging up the cleansing process in my spiritual life. If I can’t recognize these ‘imaginations’ and gather them up I cannot ever ‘empty the bag’ and let them go. My spiritual rug will remain cluttered with earthly debris.
“”Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21 We need to receive or welcome the Word with the readiness of a weeded garden, waiting to bear fruit. But first we need to pull out the tenacious impressions that clog up and take up room in our spiritual life and become habits of thought, i.e. clean out the vacuum cleaner hose or weed the garden, depending on which metaphor we use. Then there is room for the vacuum cleaner to gather up the debris. There is room for the word of God to take root in our hearts. And this growth of God’s Word in our life will “save your life!” It will bring deliverance to our spiritual life! James 1:21
Here is a review of some steps that can be helpful in the process of letting go of the old so that we can be filled with the new. Paul refers to this process as “transformation by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
Identify the “cord.” I feel out of place and unwanted at the convention.
See the cord for what it is and what it does to my spiritual life. When we see the impact of ungodly thinking we have more motivation to deal with that thinking, especially when we are attached to it. I see the impact and misery caused by the thought “others don’t really want to talk with me.” This thought caused me to withdraw from the blessings God has for me to both give and receive. These thoughts limit the work of the spirit in my heart, and create feelings of self consciousness and fear.
See what I’m getting from the thoughts: Many of our thought patterns give us a kind of pseudo ‘reward.’ I get to feel sorry for myself! I have a perfect excuse to not take a risk, a perfect excuse to be ‘safe.’
See the sanctified possibility: I feel the power of Christ in the thought “I am sent by God to welcome this person.” It takes the focus off of me. All of a sudden the focus is outward through Christ. I don’t have to think I have something to contribute and I don’t have to be afraid my mind will go blank because the mission is to welcome the brother or sister I am with, and see what unfolds from the conversation by the grace of God.
Another step is to visualize the vision. More on that another time.
We create ‘welcome’ and a feeling of “being at Home” by being Welcoming.
In Christ I can be spontaneous welcome.
Another Cord: I overlooked some brethren at the convention that I could have welcomed and that makes me a failure.
The pseudo ‘reward’: Another perfectly good excuse! I won’t have to venture out of my comfort zone….
The sanctified possibility: I will use this experience today and from now on to motivate me to be spontaneous welcome and entirely present with whoever I am with. I will not do this perfectly, but to the best of my ability.
In Christ that is enough.
The Lord is able to restore the space of His possibility! because He knows how to weed the garden and remove the long cords and debris of our “imaginations” and “reasonings” that exalt themselves against God! 2 Corinthians 10:5
I had the same experience again, with the same issues of feeling incompetent and out of place. I told myself that no one would want to talk to me at the convention, and what would I have to offer anyway. My mind was tired and blank.
I gleaned a handy illustration from a dream I had.
The things I was realizing were a part of the next step to Restore the Spark of Life in Life…
#192 The Vacuum Cleaner Dream James 1.21
I had a dream that my vacuum cleaner wouldn't work. No suction. I realized it was clogged and that there were long strong nylon like ropes or cords that were stuck in the brushes and up through the hose. I pulled them, and kept pulling and pulling until they were finally out. It took a long time. And then the vacuum cleaner worked great.
It occurred to me that this vacuum cleaner dream could contain a lesson for me. It was stuck, and I was stuck. The vacuum cleaner reminded me of a “story-remover.” There are some long, strong cords of interpretation and belief that are clogging up the cleansing process in my spiritual life. If I can’t recognize these ‘imaginations’ and gather them up I cannot ever ‘empty the bag’ and let them go. My spiritual rug will remain cluttered with earthly debris.
“”Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21 We need to receive or welcome the Word with the readiness of a weeded garden, waiting to bear fruit. But first we need to pull out the tenacious impressions that clog up and take up room in our spiritual life and become habits of thought, i.e. clean out the vacuum cleaner hose or weed the garden, depending on which metaphor we use. Then there is room for the vacuum cleaner to gather up the debris. There is room for the word of God to take root in our hearts. And this growth of God’s Word in our life will “save your life!” It will bring deliverance to our spiritual life! James 1:21
Here is a review of some steps that can be helpful in the process of letting go of the old so that we can be filled with the new. Paul refers to this process as “transformation by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
Identify the “cord.” I feel out of place and unwanted at the convention.
See the cord for what it is and what it does to my spiritual life. When we see the impact of ungodly thinking we have more motivation to deal with that thinking, especially when we are attached to it. I see the impact and misery caused by the thought “others don’t really want to talk with me.” This thought caused me to withdraw from the blessings God has for me to both give and receive. These thoughts limit the work of the spirit in my heart, and create feelings of self consciousness and fear.
See what I’m getting from the thoughts: Many of our thought patterns give us a kind of pseudo ‘reward.’ I get to feel sorry for myself! I have a perfect excuse to not take a risk, a perfect excuse to be ‘safe.’
See the sanctified possibility: I feel the power of Christ in the thought “I am sent by God to welcome this person.” It takes the focus off of me. All of a sudden the focus is outward through Christ. I don’t have to think I have something to contribute and I don’t have to be afraid my mind will go blank because the mission is to welcome the brother or sister I am with, and see what unfolds from the conversation by the grace of God.
Another step is to visualize the vision. More on that another time.
We create ‘welcome’ and a feeling of “being at Home” by being Welcoming.
In Christ I can be spontaneous welcome.
Another Cord: I overlooked some brethren at the convention that I could have welcomed and that makes me a failure.
The pseudo ‘reward’: Another perfectly good excuse! I won’t have to venture out of my comfort zone….
The sanctified possibility: I will use this experience today and from now on to motivate me to be spontaneous welcome and entirely present with whoever I am with. I will not do this perfectly, but to the best of my ability.
In Christ that is enough.
The Lord is able to restore the space of His possibility! because He knows how to weed the garden and remove the long cords and debris of our “imaginations” and “reasonings” that exalt themselves against God! 2 Corinthians 10:5
