There are times life is too loud. There are so many distractions these days with all our other responsibilities. I gave myself some time off this past week – to unplug, refresh, and recharge. I put my phone away. I didn’t blog everyday. I didn’t check Facebook 12 times a day. I didn’t record any music for the last month or so. I even muted my new app Periscope, lol! It was one of the best things I have done in a long time.
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who does all the talking?
Where you couldn’t even get a word in because they never stopped to listen?
How did that make you feel?
Yeah, me too. It’s frustrating.
I have to confess this was how my talk with God was going this past month. I was doing all the talking. And not listening.
Thank you Holy Spirit for promoting me to unplug, to simply shut up and listen for God’s whisper. I feel so much better today. And hopeful. And joyful. You give me rest Lord. Thank you Jesus!
1 Kings 19:11-13
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Choosing your battles is not always an easy task. Some people just want to argue. Some are addicted to drama. Some are jealous. Some people enjoy creating chaos. Remember Pigpen and the little cloud of dust that followed him? Leaving a dust trail wherever he went. A little here, a little there – you knew where he had been. You could see the trail!
I am writing this to remind myself today. I am feeling drained. Too many obligations, not enough time, waiting on this, waiting on that, and the first week of kids home from school. Life just feels so disorganized today. Do you ever have days like that? Does this mean I am talking to myself, lol?
How do you deal with people who try to rob your peace? Here are a few of my ideas – learned the hard way of course!
7 ways to Keep Your Peace
1. Refuse to attend every argument you are invited to. Just because someone thinks differently than you doesn’t mean it’s a contest to see who is right. Let us let go of our desire to prove ourselves with every person who comes along. As God’s kids we are already accepted in Him. Our identity comes from who He says we are, not about who others say. It’s ok if we don’t agree with everybody all the time.
2. Let’s give ourselves permission to not always have the last word. Conversation is a two way street. Half of the time is listening. Let us be better listeners.
3. How about we let go of being The Savior? Jesus is the Savior, not us. Let us give ourselves permission NOT to rescue everyone. We are NOT responsible for their choices, only our own. Love them enough to let them be fully responsible for their own actions.
4. Let us let go of criticizing and condemning other people’s behaviors. Nobody likes condemnation. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict people. There is no condemning of anyone. We don’t choose who goes to Heaven or Hell – Jesus does. Our job is to preach the Word – in season and out. We are not the Holy Spirit. Others might welcome it, or not. What they do with it really is up to them.
5. Let’s give ourselves permission to be wrong. None of us is perfect in our own strength. It’s ok, we are still human. Let’s be willing to admit when we make a mistake. Let’s forgive, as we have been forgiven as well. Let it go already!
6. Let us Guard our hearts and protect our peace. It’s ok to say no. It’s ok to give yourself some distance from a person. It is ok not to answer every text, every email, every phone call. Let’s use our boundaries. Not everything or everyone gets to come into our yard, or our house, or our minds whenever they want. That is healthy. Let us give ourselves the same respect and honor we give to others.
7. Know how to refill your body, mind, and spirit with Living Water – Jesus. Whether we read the Word, listen to the Word, listen to a Message, listen to music, just unplug, or whatever. Garbage in – garbage out, as they say. Let us learn to honor our bodies and minds with good things. Let’s take walks, enjoy nature, take baths, and go smell the flowers! Let us give ourselves time and space to rest in Him. It’s ok, He really does have this all worked out!
Overwhelmed? Stressed out? Lost? Yeah, I’m having a day like that too. Sometimes trials, troubles, or just plain life wants to drag us down into the pit of despair. So what do you do?
How do you not follow your feelings down into the pit? Or perhaps like Joseph, someone or something threw you in. Despite your best efforts, your still find yourself sitting in a dark well.
I know when I feel like this I have two choices. I have been here before. And maybe you have too. We can:
1. look at the dark
or
2. look up at the light
I don’t want to sit and ‘lick my wounds’ in this place. That never helped me. I have found that the more I fed my bad feelings the worse they got. And thedeeper I went. Wallowing in the pool of self-pity never helped anyone. Even that beggar guy that Peter and Paul ran into. Hey there were Angels in that water just waiting to heal him! See the story here at John 5:1-15.
Yeah, it may be dark. Yeah it may be lonely. Yeah, it’s not where I thought I would be today. But look up there. Lift your head oh ye gates. Is that a light? Do you see it? We are getting out of here today. Help is on the way! Here comes the King of Glory!
God’s Word for You: (food)
Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
(Psalm 61:1-4 NKJV)
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1 NKJV)
I cry out to the Lord with my voice;
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly set a snare for me.
Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul.
I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.” (Psalm 142:1-7 NKJV)
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah (Psalm 46:1-7 NKJV)
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:7-10 NKJV)
