Dance Like . . .Oh, Who Are We Kidding?

"Those who know You, LORD, will trust You;

You do not abandon anyone who comes to You."

Psalm 9:10 (GNT)

How many of us can really dance like nobody's watching when there are, in fact, other seeing beings around? Let's face it, no matter how confident we feel when we're alone, most of us become inhibited in the presence of people. Which makes me wonder, how relaxed will we be in heaven? Think of the effort we put forth down here on this globe, just to be "socially acceptable."  
How often in one day do we:

    *bite our tongues instead of speaking what we'd really like to say?

    *work to please employers, to keep our jobs, and to have what's expected? 

    *fret over the "theys" who tell us how to dress, think, and vote?  

    *strain to keep the boat steady? 

    *word what we say carefully to avoid discomfort?

    *pretend all is well when we're anything but well?

    *fib to skirt confrontation?

    *justify to allay guilt?

    *refrain from action to deflect rejection?

    *trim down and stuff in our unique qualities for the sake of fitting in with others?

    *keep our guards up, our secrets covered, our pride swallowed?

All this work to be socially acceptable exhausts the soul, and it's unnatural for believers  since we have One Who accepts us, maskless and without the frosting.  We, friends, have a Safe Place to be freely real and uniquely expressive. 

"to the praise of the glory of His grace, 

by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."  

Ephesians 1:6

We don't offend God by telling Him what He already knows.  We can't thank or praise Him in a "wrong" way. We don't wear on His nerves with our quirks and flaws. He won't fire us, expel us, eject us, shun us, avoid us, leave or forsake us.  We are "in" with Him and complete in Him.  

"And in Him, you have been made complete."

 Colossians 2:10

Trusting God, we bloom in His acceptance, dropping all pretense, formalities and self-consciousness.  In the freedom He gives, we can "make a joyful noise" of love and praise that pleases Him.  

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, 

and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms." 
Psalm 95:2 (KJV)

Practicing trust, we diminish our efforts to please anyone other than Him, and we learn to dance, sing, live and love in the acceptance of the only One Who matters after all.