I made a realization after being off of work for about two weeks. By the end of my first day back, my mental state was almost the same as it had been before the break. Regardless of how aware I am of my tempestuous attitude at home or at work or anywhere and no matter how much I pray about it, I don’t seem to change. I could blame many external factors. But what is the core problem? Some days, not most but some, I start out with the best attitude and outlook. Got a good night’s sleep, got up on time, had prayer and devotion time, exercised, ate a healthy breakfast, finished morning ablutions, packed lunch, petted the cat, kissed Ryan, out the door, in the car, didn’t forget anything, and off I go! Look what I accomplished this morning! It is going to be a good day, God is obviously with me and through Him I can handle anything! And as you are probably expecting the good attitude all comes crashing down by something as simple as someone driving 25 in a 45 zone. Some very un-Christian thoughts have run through my head in such situations.
Was God really with me that morning? I’ve struggled for a long time to understand scriptures like this one: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). Can I? Can I REALLY do all things? If you read the context of Paul’s letter to the Philippians you’ll note his statement about being content no matter what his situation is. Obviously he would have been content behind a driver going 20 miles per hour under the speed limit. So what gives? I think my understanding of what this verse means has changed. What I thought it meant was that Jesus would do all the right things through me. Using me kind of like a puppet to do His righteous works if I would allow Him in my life. I placed so much emphasis on Jesus and how it is really Him doing anything good that I forgot my own responsibility and STRUGGLE in making good choices. God is love, and we will always have free will.
Often when I’m cooking in the kitchen, I use skillets (or my wok) that are fairly large. When it comes time to transfer the food into storage containers I often have trouble being able to hold up the skillet with one hand and scrap out the food with the other. It is just too heavy. That’s when I break out my secret kitchen tool: the power assist (see photo below). Yeah it is really just Ryan holding the skillet so I can focus on getting the food where it needs to go. I still hold the skillet so I can move it from container to container but it is way easier when power assist is activated. If I don’t move the skillet or scrap out the food it would just remain where it is. I still need to do my part to get the job done. The same is true for allowing Jesus to strengthen us. So while it is still me doing all these things, Christ offers me the extra strength to make good choices! Jesus isn’t going to come and do it all for us, that’s not how free will works. The Holy Spirit will bring to our minds what we need. He will tell me in that quiet voice, “now Deidre… you don’t need to think that way about that slow driver. What good does that do for anyone?” I still have the choice to stay mad. I can fuss and fume all the way to where I’m going and even afterwards if I so choose. Or I can listen to the Spirit, regain the peace and calm that only God can give, and proceed with my life sporting a much happier attitude.
The Bible tells us how to increase the volume of the Spirit’s workings in our lives. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). “If we look to Jesus, we can see brighter and clearer views of God. And by seeing God we become changed to be like Him.” – Douglas Cooper. Looking to Jesus constantly is the key. I must not just passively read my Bible. Something I can just check off my to do list to ensure a star for that day. No, in order for the Word to have an effect in my life not only must the things I read be put to good use (James 1:22) I also must constantly meditate upon the word of God, upon the very thing I wish to become. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). I finally realized I do not spend enough time with God for His voice to be louder than my own.
When I have a smidgen of time to kill, waiting in the doctor’s office, waiting for dinner to come out of the oven, I could be thinking on the Word instead of surfing the internet for funny memes or cat videos. Yeah a laugh now and then is good but it doesn’t have the lasting effect on my life like I hope dwelling on the scripture will. Starting now I’m going to try to focus more on God and His Word. Maybe you’d like to do this too? Let’s see how many spare moments we have to redirect our attention to God instead of on something else and find out if our “strength” will increase as does our time spent with God.
