Grab It Like You Mean It

Back in the dark ages, when I went through boot camp for the Marines, we used to do what is known as "Manual of Arms" That was when the Drill Instructor would call out commands about how to hold the rifle and what position to put it in things like that.
An example would be that if they said to us "present arms" we knew to bring the rifle up to our fronts in a very specified manner and if we didn't we were "corrected" until we got it right!

One of the other commands was "Inspection Arms" and you would go through a process that would allow you to make sure that the weapon was empty and then the Drill Instructor would be able to inspect your weapon to make sure that it was clean to his satisfaction. One of the things that they taught us was that when it was time for the inspection, when the Drill Instructor reached for the weapon we were to let go of it just before his hands touched the rifle thus causing a rather pleasing "pop" when they grabbed it. Then once they were done inspecting it, they would hold it out in front of them and you were to take it back from them, however there was a small catch; You had to grab it back from them like you meant it! It wasn't enough to just grab it from them, you had to bring that left hand up hard and furious like you were angry, which might not be far from the truth by the time they got done with an inspection,and grab that weapon like you really meant to grab it! They wanted to hear the "pop" of your hand hitting the hand guard clear across the parade deck, "grab it like you mean it"!

So why tell you this? Simple really; Have you grasped a hold of the word of G-D like you really mean it? Have you hit your knees so hard on the floor that it echoed through out your house? Have you sought G-D with an intensity that would make a Drill Instructor smile? Have you grabbed a hold of G-D like you mean it?

Jer.29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. AND YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

Drill Instructors didn't want wishy washy recruits they wanted men and women who would put their hearts into it and G-D is the same. He doesn't want people who just kind of go through the motions of prayer and worship, He wants people who will seek him with all their heart and mean it so much that the "pop" of their heart will be heard around the world. Like a recruit grabbing his rifle like he means it, grab a hold of the things of G-D like you mean it and let your "pop" be heard.

Shalom,
Ignacio