Regard Self Less, God More

I spent much of the day yesterday cleaning the house in preparation for my upcoming surgery July 1. I won't be able to clean for at least a couple of weeks after surgery, so decided I needed to get everything done now while I am still strong and able. I did the laundry, made two loaves of my home-ground healthy bread, vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the bathrooms, mopped the floors, and packed my hospital bag.

To avoid the re-occurrence of blood clots which I had with the original surgery, I bought rainbow striped compression socks. How fun is that! I was also told I need compression shorts for a couple of weeks for my liposuctioned thighs (they are harvesting fat to aid in the breast reconstruction.) Since I just don't think a near 60-year-old lady should be seen in public in compression shorts, I got some with a skirt over them. How cute will I be in rainbow knee socks and a little skort with compression shorts? I will be the talk of the recovery room.

I spent a great deal of time walking, and in prayer. As the surgery looms, I find I must constantly be talking to God, or my freak-out potential increases. Charles Spurgeon agrees this is a good strategy. Here is what he said in my morning Bible study:

It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. 

I had always thought of this as a call to glorify God rather than self...and of course, it is. But it is also protective! When I am facing something terribly frightening or difficult, like the surgery, focusing on myself makes it a thousand times worse. When I focus on Christ instead, the hours pass and I barely consider the upcoming ordeal.

In fact, I am almost excited about surgery since I get to wear those rainbow socks afterwards. Almost excited, but not quite. In the not quite moments, I am focusing on Christ to get me through.
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Colossians 3:2 

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Proverbs 4:25 

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Matthew 6:33 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Psalm 1:1-6 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...

Romans 8:5 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.