When I saw the movie Wonder Woman a few years ago, I could not get my eyes off her fiery lasso. My prayers always ended with, "and please give me a fiery lasso – thanks, Lord." Then, I started to think, "wait, I have a fiery lasso – the Holy Spirit!" I still prayed for a physical manifestation like, you guessed it, a fiery lasso. Fast forward a few years later and I re-visited my previous request, especially with Pentecost coming up.
In the Christian, and non-Christian world, we women like to think of ourselves as a form of Wonder Woman, right? We create this woman in our minds, who is impossible to live up to, and knock ourselves and others down when we fail to be that Wonder Woman we created in our head. We think somehow, magically, we are going to have supernatural abilities out of our might instead of our surrender.
Even as I type this, I am in a spiritual battle that is killing my flesh inch by inch, and what feels like the hardest surrender of my life. I know that if I will just let go it will be one of the most beautiful and powerful seasons of my life. I am not afraid of dying at all. I am afraid of dying and not living out God's purposes for my life. I know to fulfill God's purposes I must learn to surrender and rely on God's power, guidance, and comfort through His gift to me in the Holy Spirit.
It is strange how this quarantine has had us waiting almost the same amount of time as the apostles waited in the upper room for the Holy Spirit to come. God's word says we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. That means I do not have to carry the pressure, stress, and even decision making if I learn how to depend on the Holy Spirit. I have often been told the Holy Spirit is like what we call either our conscience or that still, small voice. We must sit quietly, wait (my favorite), and do what deep down in our spirit we know He is telling us.
As I read through the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit dropped the craziest revelation on me. In the story of Wonder Woman, He is Wonder Woman! What?! No!!! I am Wonder Woman, and I had the "Underoos" to prove it. "Nope," per the Holy Spirit, "I am the lasso," and because of Him I am on fire. All of this, of course, is only possible with my complete surrender. Wonder Woman's lasso did not have a life of its own and it was not animated, but in its most surrendered state (in her hands) it was powerful.
We must lean not on our own understanding, step-out afraid, and give out of our need without asking questions. I usually have lots of questions, thoughts, and even my own "2 cents." Oh, how the Lord yearns to hear my "2 cents." However, I don't recall hearing the lasso ask Wonder Woman if she was sure about what she was doing, recommend ways she should hold the lasso for maximum results, and tell her who or what she should touch with said lasso.
In fact, to be like the lasso, we must be so dead to self and so confident in the Holy Spirit that we will leave the hard stuff up to Him. We should wait joyfully, listen in quiet, and move fast – and on fire! Life would be so much more enjoyable if we could get that – you know, live as more than conquerors.
Some Biblical principles which will help us be more like Wonder Woman's lasso, I am not surrendering all to be just any lasso, are: we must die to self, lean not on our own understanding, and obey immediately without questions, which is really just a stalling tactic. Asking questions is imperative and welcomed by our Father, but I believe there is a time better suited than in the very moment He is asking
for our obedience. I imagine its like when a parent asks a child to do something. That parent hopes their child trusts them enough to know they aren't asking them to do anything that would harm them, but only that which would promote them and cause them to grow.
Let's trust our Father, worship Him for His beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit, and let the Holy Spirit guide you like a lasso, and set you on fire (spiritually, of course).
Xoxo,
Marci
P.S. It's ok to start small, and remember Psalm 1:3, "I am like a tree planted by rivers of water. I bring forth fruit in my season, my leaf shall not wither, and whatever I do will prosper. The grace of God even makes my mistakes to prosper."
