Who Let the Ducks Out?

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

If you were to unload an armful of rubber duckies into a large, empty basin, they'd all fall to the bottom of the container. On their own, they'd never magically float up to the top or jump out of the basin. But just as soon as you fill the container up with water, the little duckies would float up and eventually, if you let the water flow over the basin's sides, they'd all make their way out of the basin.

It is the same way with us! Our hearts are full of rubber duckies and they're just sitting there, awkward and taking up space. These little duckies come masked as both good and evil, but really, they are all starkly out of place--gripped dreams, habitual sin, lack of surrender, out of place emotions, schedules, futures, burdens, etc. Our hearts were not meant to house rubber duckies, no matter how seemingly harmless they look!

So what do we do to kick this rubber duckies out? We know they don't belong, but they're pretty content to stay. Just like in the story above, the only way to get these [often invited] guests to leave is to douse them with water! They will have no choice but to float. But they're not going to move out if you sprinkle a little water here or a little water there. Your heart needs the consistent, daily flow of Living Water to rid itself of everything that does not belong. Spending time with God in Bible study, prayer, service, and Christian fellowship is like opening your heart to the floodgates of Heaven. Opening the Word of God is like asking for a tsunami. There is just no way around it!

Even the good things in our lives do not belong in our hearts. Every single thing EVER belongs surrendered at the foot of the cross and entrusted to the One who put it there.

If only we'd open up the Word and let the Living Water rush through our hearts, we'd stand before our Maker as a sopping wet creation, soaked in His love, soaked in His blood with little rubber duckies floating away from us. The Water would run through us and soak everybody within Love's distance and give them a glimpse of what it's like to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Isn't it time? Let the ducks out already. :)