DANCE OF GRACE

When the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to me as my Savior, it was like being asked to dance by the Lord.  He was leading the dance and I was lost as I gazed at His countenance and looked into His eyes of love and forgiveness.  We moved almost effortlessly – in harmony and the unforced rhythms of grace.  I was totally unaware of my own feet and was consumed with His face. 

Somewhere during the dance the music changed and someone yelled in my ear, “Look at your feet! Watch where you are stepping! You can’t go there, you’ll fall! Don’t step on anyone’s toes! Be careful of going there, they don’t dance right!” I became painfully aware of my “feet,” my “walk” instead of the glorious face of Jesus, the joy of my Salvation.  In fact, my feet became so heavy and awkward that it was difficult to move at all.  The voice in my ear was so harsh and controlling – I should have known it wasn’t the voice of the gentle Shepherd of my Soul.  Without realizing it I had changed partners. The harsh voice belonged to a taskmaster – the accuser of the brethren.  The music was no longer sweet but pounded on my soul like a drill instructor.  Once in awhile the Shepherd’s gentle voice would break through and speak tenderly to my heart, but like a battered woman who returns to her abuser, so would I.

If being abused and accused by that religious spirit wasn’t bad enough, I became an abuser and an accuser myself.  Now I was teaching and training others to look at their “feet.”  “You don’t go there! You don’t step on toes! You must not dance with anyone who could deceive you!! Do it like I’m doing it, because I’ve learned the right way!”  Judging others by my “feet,” by my “walk,” in self-righteousness. 

Today, the Lord has revealed and healed me from the abuse that came as a result of changing partners.  Jesus cut in on the “heavy metal” dance to a religious spirit and spoke tenderly to my heart.  “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live (dance) freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:23-end of chapter  So I am dancing again with the Joy of my Salvation – Jesus.  Turning my eyes upon Jesus, looking full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.  I have officially resigned as assistant drill instructor.  There is only ONE Dance instructor!  I’m fixing my eyes on Jesus!

JoAnn Parrott

12/01/98

© Dance of Grace 12/1/98

Here is a youtube link to an amazing song by Paul Wilbur called "Dance with me."  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75vPy71e-6Q