Ever
felt like you had an excuse to cut up or treat someone bad? Maybe, someone
treated you badly? Maybe things didn't go your way or maybe you feel like you
had a RIGHT to be upset.
I have
felt the SAME way. Let me share my story..
I was
working with a customer service firm and I felt like the service was TERRIBLE. I tried to talk to staff,
yet everyone ignored and said oh crap,human beings won’t ever change, they are
same everywhere, all stubborn and won’t listen. And I heard in my heart the
same grace that I give you daily.. I need you to give it to them.
Wait,
WHAT LORD? I don't like how they do business! As I fussed at Him, tears
came to my eyes.Why is it that I am so hard on others (even if they are
wrong) but at the same time I forget that I need the same grace from the Lord daily?!
I'm reminded of this story in Matthew 18: 24-33:
I'm
reminded of this because I am the person that owes a tiny bit. When I messed up
in the past, I begged God to forgive me! As I repent daily for any known or unknown sin, I'm humbled by His
grace & desperately need Him! Everything is great. THEN, I get tested with
the person who is trying to WORK my nerves out.. AND I want him to know that I think you're trying to get over on me and I
don't like bad business!
SO,
because God forgave ME, I'm going to trust His word when He says .. "A
gentle answer turns away wrath." Instead of fussing with
whoever, I'm going to really let God fight my battles. I'm going to
trust His timing and His ways and know that I don't have to be this all-powerful-superwoman-business woman. I
need to be a servant of the Lord and trust that HE has my back.. And I think it's ok to have standards and be
a good business woman BUT if we are being mean, rude and just plain emotional,
that aint biblical. So, please, don't take this that you have to
be some wimp
Lets ponder this: HOW are we any different than the
world if we fight like them? Bicker like them? Argue like them? Romans
12:2 says "And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and
acceptable and perfect will of God."
along the way I may work with unbelievers. I
may work with people that are trying to ruffle my feathers & are being used
by the enemy! If the enemy knows what drives me nuts, he's gonna send people my
way to distract me in that very area. BUT God will use it to mature me if I
pass the test.
So, are
you giving into the bait of that co-worker.. that family member... that
friend.. that boss that is DRIVING you
up the wall? This is your chance to grow! You've been asking God to use you and
then when the test came, you ran! You responded like you used to when you were in the world! The proof is in your pudding
honey and at times we can be so emotional
that we don't even give the Lord a chance to FIGHT on our behalf.
So, who
is fighting your battles?
You?
Or the
Lord?
It MAY
be hard to grasp this concept of
truly resting and trusting the Lord because we are in a society that
screams, "MOVE, take ACTION, STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!" But
at the same time, the Lord may be speaking into your heart to rest. With
a whisper He
is trying to show you your own heart. That
you move & take action and you don't wait
for his response. You move based on your high emotions. You move based on how
you feel that day. You move based on what you saw on TV. You move based on what
mama & whoever said. God sent you to that place to be an example but.. you
haven't started because you're too busy arguing with spirits. We have to remember that this fight is not PHYSICAL but spiritual!
Awesome read!
ReplyDeleteGod strategically positions us in places where we can showcase His glory... especially in our conduct.
May we continually make Him proud, and also realize that the battle is the Lord's.
nice one. the flesh definitely wants to fight the battles on its own, but the more we give in to God and allow him in our lives, the faster we grow and become more like him.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder