Moving Out Of "Oakie-Doke"

Any type of move is a transition of not only body but mind and spirit. It takes planning and organization for this to happen successfully. Moving without all aspects in place leaves room for confusion, chaos, and anxiety. We already know, that's not of God. The Word tells us to write the vision down and make it plain. This sounds like a directive, instruction, and a rule to live by. Only a fool would disregard it (Proverbs 1:7 KJV).

What is "Oakie-Doke"? "Oakie-Doke" is a place where you were raised as a child. It can be a place that your parents started off with a young family because it is all they could afford at the time. It is a place where one would call a "comfort zone" and won't take a step for fear rather then for growth. Whether it is your mama's basement or an oppressive place of employment - it could very well be your obstacle impeding you from obtaining the blessings of the Lord. For Abraham, it was his family's home. God told him to move away from there (Genesis 12:1 KJV). His family were a group of liars and thieves. For God to be an influence on Abraham without interference and for Abraham to receive the full blessing, he had to heed to the instruction to move.

He did what God told him and took Lot with him (Genesis 12:4 AMP). Could Abraham still receive the blessing even though the "Oakie-Doke" he was supposed to be free from came with him? Let's see. Abraham developed a relationship with God. What happened to that relationship with Lot being around? Scriptures tells us that Abraham reacted to situations in fear. Because of that reaction the words he used were lies. This continued until he realized that he had to separate from Lot as well. When he was completely removed from "Oakie-Doke", his relationship with God resumed and Abraham could grow into what he was called to be - the father of many nations (Genesis 13:14 AMP).

So the obvious question for this blog would be, what does this have to do with Christian singles or Christian dating? Answer: Everything.

Moving out of "Oakie-Doke" is something every woman dating should notice of the man that she is interested in. She, who is accepting the date is also accepting the calling to be a wife. A wife is her husband's help. Help with what? Have you ever tried to help someone who didn't desire help or didn't appreciate it?

Kenneth Copeland, television evangelist and founder of a very popular Christian program, Believer's Voice of Victory, told of a time when he was asked if he could pray for a man for healing. Rev. Copeland agreed. He began to pray to God along with others but then paused. He tried to start again but stopped and then asked the man needing the healing, if he believed that he could be healed? The man said, according to Rev. Copeland, something to the effect of hoping that God's will for him is to be healed. Before they went any further, Rev. Copeland had to teach the man about healing, God's will for healing, and that it could be his if only he would believe. Once this man understood the basics, then and only then could the prayers be effective (Luke 4:18-19 AMP).

What does the potential husband believe? What if the wife becomes ill? Does he believe he could pray healing for his wife or does he believe it is God's will for his wife to be sick? There are ministries that believe sickness is God's way of teaching believers a lesson. This twisted way of thinking can be someone's "Oakie-Doke". Its time to move and grow up into where God intends for the real abundant life to begin. But if you stay and reside where truth is manipulated for control, then drips and dribbles of His mercy is all you get - if that (Hebrews 5:11-14 AMP). What do you believe?

Michal said that she loved David. When Saul, her father, knew of this, he allowed for David to marry her (1 Samuel 18:20 AMP). When they were moving into a place of their own, Michal brought idols with her. She knew that David was not an idol worshiper. How would we know this? Because she hid the idols under her bed. David worshiped the Lord - all day and every day. Do you think it would have been a second thought not to marry Michal if he knew that she didn't love the Lord too? Michal showed her true self when she watched David worship the Lord from a window (2 Samuel 6:16 AMP). She was embarrassed and let David know how she felt. In reading this passage, I could picture the calm of David all while his wife seemingly was reprimanding him for acting like a commoner when she is of royal status and her husband. Then David spoke. It wasn't a long dissertation but just a few words to let her know the righteous indignation that he, being the head of her and God being the head of him won't ever be separated because of her insecurities (2 Samuel 6:20-21 AMP). Now this isn't what he actually said, but how I envisioned it. My point being, she brought "Oakie-Doke" with her because it was what she saw as her comfort. David did not see Saul's short comings. Saul was Michal's father. If he had issues to sort, how much more would his children having been taught by him?

Man said when he was presented with a wife that she must cleave to the spouse and separate from the parents. There was a movie that premiered on the Life Time Channel based on a book by Bishop T.D. Jakes entitled, Not Easily Broken starring Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson. As much as Morris' character loved his wife played by Taraji, he was willing to let her and his marriage go because she invited her mother, played by Jennifer Lewis, to reside in the marital home. She brought her "Oakie-Doke" with her. No matter how much he could have demanded for his mother-in-law to leave, the heart of his wife had to be in the right place. That place would not be with her mother but with her husband. It wasn't until she told her mother to leave, could the marriage be repaired.

The wife has to keep prayerful to hear God's voice, so does he and even more so because man was created first. Remember, he is the one responsible for the household. Naomi didn't tell Elimelech to move (Ruth 1:1-5 AMP). It was his decision. That's why he received the consequence. As I have told my children, marriage is not a joke or to be considered lightly. Hearts and souls are involved and God says each one is precious. So when the call to move is upon you, remember your lessons and know who and where you are being called to.




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