“Do not let
yourself be
overcome by
evil, but
overcome
(master) evil
with good.”
Romans 12:21
Do not conform
any longer to
the pattern of
this world, but
be transformed
by the renewing
of
your mind. Then
you will be able
to test and
approve what
God's will
is—his good,
pleasing and
perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
I found out
yesterday I may
(or may not)
have some bad
medical news,
but I don’t know
yet, as I
haven’t even
taken the first
test to verify
or deny the
suspicion. I am
choosing to:
“not let my
heart be
troubled or
afraid” and to
just give it to
Jesus, and have
either no
thoughts or
positive
thoughts. This
is new for me; I
usually try to
figure out
everything and
make plans on
each possible
outcome, try to
control and
worry about
everything way
before its time.
So, I’m working
on this choice
thing, and you
know….it’s
working!
January 12, 2006
“Do not let”.
These words just
roll off my
tongue as I read
them:
“Pea
ce
I leave with
you; My [own]
peace I now give
and bequeath to
you. Not as the
world gives do I
give to you. Do
not let your
hearts be
troubled,
neither let them
be afraid. [Stop
allowing
yourselves to be
agitated and
disturbed; and
do not permit
yourselves to be
fearful and
intimidated and
cowardly and
unsettled.]”
John 14:27
(emphasis mine)
But, then I stop
and realize that
I have a choice,
the Bible is
telling me that
I choose whether
I am troubled,
upset, agitated,
disturbed,
afraid,
intimidated,
fearful or
unsettled. These
are all my
choice. The
Bible also tells
me that Jesus
has given me
peace, His own
peace, whether I
receive that and
let it in is
also my choice.
It is available
to me at all
times, in all
circumstances.
Yet, how often
do I choose not
to live in that
peace, not to
walk in that
peace? Rather, I
choose to be
unsettled,
angry, upset,
offended or
agitated.
I’ve been
pondering my
choices lately,
and God has been
taking many
opportunities to
give me choices.
God is gracious
and He has also
been providing
opportunities
for me to notice
and to choose
differently. For
instance: just
this morning as
I’m driving on
the freeway,
guess what? A
car cuts really
close in front
of me, as usual,
my first
response was not
friendly. But
almost
immediately, I
noticed what I
was thinking and
I turned it
around and
instead of
choosing to be
agitated, upset
and disturbed, I
prayed for that
person. I prayed
they would be
safe on the rest
of their journey
and they would
arrive at their
destination on
time. I prayed
they would be
blessed and
could find joy
and comfort in
their day.
Another
opportunity
today: during my
aerobics class I
found that I was
being critical
of another
person in class
and again, I
turned it into a
prayer. I
thanked God that
she was there,
working on and
caring about her
health, that He
would help make
this a good time
for her so it
wouldn’t seem
like work and
would be easier
to stick with
it, I prayed for
a positive
result from the
exercise that
she was doing.
I’m discovering I am a very judgmental and critical person. But the upside to all of this is that I am starting slowly but surely to live life awake, to stay connected to God throughout the day and to make the right choices in my thoughts.