August 2005 Devotion
Dancing
by
Dana Progar


When I think about combating the enemy’s lies over my worth, I can’t help but think of
dancing…..Let me explain.

I had finished hearing a message about our sin tendencies that are unique to us as women as a
result of fallen Eve.  Basically, we’ve inherited both the glorious beauty of Eve, as well as the
marring of sin…at the close of this message about our sin nature and our tendency to control,
indulge, hide, and other such symptoms of our brokenness, the speaker invited us to take some
time and let God love us.  To let His marvelous love into those broken parts of each one of us…

For me this exercise was somewhat revolutionary, as my habit had become to confess
(sometimes over and over again)….”oh God, I am so bad.  I’ve messed up….I’m controlling.  
And I overindulge.  And I hide from the truth….God, I’m sorry.  Woe is me…”  {And by the
way, I’m not downplaying the importance of confession and repentance…how critical they are
to our LIFE as Christians….}  So, I closed my eyes and almost immediately a picture came to
mind.  I was sitting in a chair.  And there was Jesus, reaching out His hand….He pulled me up
and drew me to Himself inviting me to dance with Him.  Wow.  It was beautiful….we had
never “danced” like that before….

So, the speaker then ushered us out of the meeting room to go spend an hour alone with God
in silence.  I felt a prompting to go down to the prayer room (I had yet to spend some time there)
…..as I entered the room, I felt a nudging to go sit in a chair in the back corner….so, heeding
what I thought might be the Holy Spirit, I went to the chair.  And I sat down only to notice a
banner written in calligraphy, “Beloved, may I have this dance.”  We “danced” some more.  I
wept.

Oh women of God…do you get it??  Do you realize….He wants to dance with YOU!  He wants
our hearts to receive His love and return to Him.  What an amazing God we serve.  When our
hearts seem to condemn us and our thoughts are filled with guilt, shame, and sometimes
disgust….God calls us beloved.  He invites us to His arms.  To dance.  To be free in His love!  
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God says in Isaiah 45:2-3, “I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down
gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.  I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches
stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who
summons you by name.”  

He’s calling your name…it’s your turn to dance.

A prayer for you...
May you get lost in His tremendous love today.  May His true love romance your heart to
repentance…..I pray that you would be reminded of God’s love for you and His gentle mercy
and grace.  May the Truth of God’s beautiful love for you stir in you a heart of obedience and
a passion for His Kingdom!  And may you know that you are ever so lovely…
In Jesus’ Name, Amen