January 16, 2015

Give Anger to God

 

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret -- it leads only to evil.

For evil men will be cut off,

but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

-- Psalm 37:8-9

When was the last time you got angry? I don't even have to think about it. I got angry today. Then I got angry with myself for getting angry about something, or more specifically with someone, that I can't change. My anger didn't do either of us any good.

Not that she was even aware of it. That's part of the problem. Some people are so self-focused that they can't see how their destructive behavior is destroying those around them. Or maybe they see but just don't care. And that makes me angry.

It's pointless. A never ending destructive cycle that holds me hostage and makes my life miserable. I want to be the person who always gives it over to God and leaves it there. But I keep taking it back. Again and again. Has anyone else done this? Probably most of us at one point or the other.

I'm simply not willing to live this way anymore. Famous last words. Isn't that how the clique goes? I suspect I'll be asking God for forgiveness again over this same issue. Satan has a way of pointing out our weak spots.

It's just frustrating to see someone you care about being so destructive. That's not just my opinion. Every doctor she's seen says exactly the same thing. But she simply refuses to do what she needs to do to get well. It's her choice. It is. But where do you draw that boundary line? How do you let someone make her own choices and still keep her from destroying you and other family members in the process?

You turn it over to God. And you leave it with Him. God can do far more than we could ever imagine. His goodness and His wisdom surpass anything we could ever know or understand. He'll work it out. Maybe not in the way I would but it will be the best way. And He'll bring good from it because that's what He promises. God always keeps His promises.

So today I give it to Him. All my anger and frustration. I give it to God and trust Him to do what's right, in His timing and in His way.

December 30, 2013

The following is the David Jeremiah post from today. If you haven't already signed up to get his e-mail devotionals sent to you each day, I surely recommend it.

The Detour Is the Route

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret....
Psalm 37:7

Recommended Reading Psalm 37:1-8

If life is a highway, most of us are racing down the interstate, hitting the breaks in the congestion, overheating our engines, and running out of gas. Well, take a detour for a moment and read Psalm 37:7. Think of this verse as a winding mountain road with relaxed speeds, glorious overlooks, and scant traffic. Now consider: This detour is the quickest way to the destination. We can accomplish so much more when we're relaxed as we trust the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

Resting in the Lord means recognizing He's in control. Your problems are His concern, and His promises are your inheritance. You may have reasons to worry, but you have better reasons not to. The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms, and the Lord knows your needs before you even ask. He will take care of you.

Resting in the Lord is the exact opposite of the spirit of our age. But who wants the spirit of this age anyway? Let the Spirit of God fill you with all joy and peace as you rest in the Lord.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Give God Control and Stop Worrying

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret -- it leads only to evil.

-- Psalm 37:7-8

How often do you worry about something? Anything? Do you worry about money? Do you worry about the safety of your children? Do you worry about what to take to the church potluck dinner?

You don’t really trust God, do you? You don’t trust him to provide for you If you did, you wouldn’t worry.

I’ve always been a worrier. I’ve joked that I should start a business offering to pay people to worry for them. I try not to worry. I know I’m not supposed to but I can’t seem to help myself.

Then God told me why I’m such a worrier: control. Excuse me? I never would have paired worry with control until God told me I was focusing on the wrong issue. No wonder I can’t seem to stop worrying.

I don’t see myself as a person who needs to be in control. In fact, that’s laughable in many ways. I don’t control much of anything in my life right now -- whether it’s when I wake up or how I spend my day. All my time seems to be spent on doing for others. I am most definitely not in control of my life.

But neither is God. Maybe I should put that another way. God is in control but most of the time I live my life as though He isn’t. Why worry about others, about needs and desires, about things I can’t control? And why worry about the impact of others on my days? Certainly I can’t control them and worrying means I’m not trusting God to take care of it all.

I don’t know if it’s possible to live life without worrying about anything. I don’t know if I can give everything over to God’s control and trust Him to handle not just the big issues of my life but the smaller ones as well. I want to. And mostly I think I do. But then I worry, I show that I don’t trust God at all.

So I’m making a promise to God and myself to turn it all over to Him -- everything. I’m sure I’ll slip up. I know I’ll still worry sometimes. I’ve spent a lifetime doing it and I’m not so naïve as to think I can just stop without any slipups. I have to chuckle even as I write that. God can do anything and I can do anything with Christ, who strengthens me.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Give God Your Dreams

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. -- Psalm 37:5

What aren’t you doing today because you don’t believe you can? What are you holding back? What have you given up? What makes you sad? What dream do you believe is long dead?

The thing about God is that He can make anything happen. No matter who tells you something won’t work. No matter how many people shoot down your dreams. No matter how impossible something seems. If you commit what you’re doing to God, He can make it happen.

Facing the Giants is one of my favorite movies. The characters overcome incredible odds but clearly show that lives dedicated to God and living for Him can overcome impossible odds. Who could ever imagine that a church in Albany, Georgia, could make such a powerful movie? God did. He planted the seeds and His people trusted Him to use them and make it happen.

They prepared for Him. That’s the key. You can have all the dreams in the world, but if you don’t do the work those dreams aren’t going to happen. It’s not like God is going to wave a magic wand over you and suddenly you’ll have a business, or a new ministry, or a home of your own. You have to do your part so that God can do His.

One scene in the movie involves a former soccer player turned field goal kicker. At the very end, he’s called to kick the winning field goal. It’s way further than he’s ever kicked. He’s convinced he can’t do it. He goes onto the field wearing defeat before he’s even tried. He’s given up.

The coach asks his player if the player believes God could kick that field goal. Silly question. Of course God could kick the field goal! Well, the coach tells him, just give it his best effort and let God do the rest. Naturally, the field goal makes it and the team wins. Because God can do anything. He only asks that we give Him our best. That we show up. That we trust Him.

This doesn’t mean that God is going to give us everything we want. But if we seek His will, follow His path, He will help us. Trust Him. Again and again in the Bible we are told to trust God. In all things. At all times. He won’t fail us. Ever.

So brush off those dreams. Rethink those plans. Talk to God about what you truly want to do. Then listen to what He has to say. Maybe what you always believed was out of reach, isn’t so impossible after all.

Monday, August 2, 2010

God Is Victorious!

"The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him."

-- Psalm 37:40

It's easy to get caught up in all the wrong around us. We are consumed with our rights -- the right to be first in line, the right to do things our way, the right to know best for everyone around us. Then we get consumed with the slightest offense. Sometimes it isn't even an offense or insult. It's just that someone else is doing something differently than we would do it.

Other times, of course, it's a big deal. Someone tells lies about us. Someone steals our idea to get ahead. Someone steals money from a person we care about. Or someone breaks our heart. I could go on and on. We see people getting ahead while we, trying to live a righteous life, fall further and further behind. It's just not fair!

But, as the cliche goes, life isn't fair. We live in a fallen world. Sin abounds. Sometimes evil people who do evil things do seem to get ahead. At least in the here and now. God promises us refuge from their wickedness. It is a battle God already has won, after all. We know the end of the story,

So why do we spend so much time and attention on people and circumstances we cannot change? We are responsible for our own lives and our own actions. There is no way we can control the sins of others when we can't even control sin in our own lives.

What we can do is focus on living our lives in such a way that others can see Jesus living in us. We can show them with our actions and words that a different way exists. But we can't make them change. We can't force them to accept the eternal life Jesus has given to us. They have a choice, just like we do. But we can show them a different way, a way that seeks God's will over self enhancement.

We can also remember that no matter how upset we get with someone and his/her actions, that person belongs to God too. He may be lost in sinful choices but God loves him and wants him to accept His offer of salvation. That makes us squirm somehow. Surely not, we think silently. But we're sinners too. The only difference is we accepted Jesus and, through His sacrifice, we gained eternal life.

We know the end of the story. Every sinner deserves to know the end of the story.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Let God Handle It

"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret -- it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." -- Psalm 37:8-9

I caught myself doing it again today. I was obsessing over something I can't control. Yeah. It's that same ol' somebody done me wrong song. Why do some people take financial advantage of others? Why do they disregard laws? And why do I put up with it?

Ever walked that path? I have. I once left a job after I found out a fellow employee with less experience and fewer responsibilities made more money than me. I asked our boss why. His answer? My co-worker was married and had a child. I always said I wouldn't tolerate that again. So here I am, tolerating it again.

I enjoy the driving that I do. It gets me on the road while my art mostly keeps me home alone for hours. The money helps fill in the financial gaps between art shows as well. I even like most of the people I deal with. But it burns me up inside that drivers out of the Dothan office get paid minimum wage and I don't. We won't even talk about the legal issues.

So why do I put up with it? I enjoy it. But the anger is starting to get to me. Not the boss' anger. He's happy as a clam. I'm the one who is angry. I'm angry at him for treating me unfairly and I'm angry at me for putting up with it. That would be the evil coming out in me.

God finally managed to get through to me this afternoon. While I was ranting to myself, I might add. I want to do something to change my circumstances but I don't want the consequences. I want to do something. Me. Hello? Whatever happened to turning it over to God and asking Him to handle it? Yeah. That would be the smart thing to do.

So that's what I'm doing. I've asked God to forgive me for getting angry and trying to take over His job. I know He loves me and He'll take care of this, in His own time and His own way. I also know I may not like the journey. But I trust God. I know He's in control and, in the end, it'll all turn out just fine. He really does know what He's doing.