” Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! “Psalms 119:1-8
Yesterday, I listened to the Proverbs 31 Podcast "How Do I Know if I'm Making the Right Decision" with guest speaker Joel Muddamalle. I highly recommend this podcast even if you do not have a huge decision to make. It is more about making good everyday decisions than good huge decisions.
If you haven't figured it out yet, I am stuck on Psalms 119 this week. I have read, listened, and reread the book of Psalms Chapter 119 this week and I have found it speaks to every moment of my life.
Last week and this week have been unnecessarily stressful for me. While I love helping my community as much as I can, I hate being under the watchful eye of Satan. Yes, I am going to label it as Satan. Jesus will not critique you, complain at you, humiliate you, make unnecessary Facebook post about you, text your phone at 2am because you made a comment he didn't like, lie about you, mock you, or be mean to you. You see those behaviors are not of Christ they are of the devil.
Psalms 119: 4 & 5 says "You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!"
I sit as a semi-important position in my community. Some days it is important and somedays it is irrelevant. I have found it to be relevant to some when they want to use my position to for their own gain or if they want to get back at me for something they think I did or didn't do.
Last week and this week I was asked numerous times for my opinion on a certain subject; I had an opinion, not exactly the opinion everyone thought I had, but my opinion was irrelevant to the situation. None of the players in the situation were under my representation and none of them had asked for my assistance in the situation, so why did my opinion matter?
It didn't really, but my influence was sought. They wanted my influence instead of my opinion. Was it really fair for me to insert my influence without knowing all the facts of the situation - the facts as to which I was not privy to? Absolutely Not. It would have been unfair to all the players for me to insert my influence on a situation that impacted every single household in my city.
The whole situation felt icky to me, so I exited the situation by explaining that these individuals were not members of the organization I sit with therefore I stay neutral in the matter - BUT because they sought my influence more than my opinion this upset them even more. It was a lose lose situation.
Yesterday as I listened to the Podcast, I mentioned above, Mr Muddamalle talked about when we are decision making and seeking input on our decisions, we have to be transparent with those we are seeking advice from. "They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths" Psalms 1119:3
How do we hide things and not comprise with evil? We can't. I knew that while I was making the decision to insert my opinion or not insert my opinion there was more to the story than what was being told and/or what I was being told or they wouldn't have been come at me so hard seeking my opinion or information from me. Every request wouldn't have felt like I was being manipulated.
I find joy in the fact that I sought God's instruction on the matter. As the day neared and the time came close for the situation to be over, I spent my day NOT inserting my opinion, but instead fasting and praying for those making the final decision on the matter. I found joy that my action while not pleasing to the world could reflect those of Jesus and how he faced hard times. I found joy in knowing that while I didn't do everything perfectly - I asked God for guidance, and I obeyed his commands.
The world or actually Satan using the world hates when we fall back on the word of God to make our decisions.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the words of wisdom you have given us. The guidance that helps us find answers to hard and simple things in this world. Thank you for listening and guiding us in this world. Thank you for resources and Godly people we can draw from. Thank you for loving us so much even when we do not walk your path.
Father God, thank you for my city and the people of my city. Thank you for the growth and abundance you have poured down in our community. Thank you for the hedge of protection you have put around my community and sheltered us from some of the problems we do not know about.
God, I ask you to continue to bless our community and those in it. I ask you to open their eyes to how awesome you are in this world and help their lives not only be abundant but easier.
Father, you know those that are not following your word or living by your righteous regulations, I pray for them. I pray that their hearts are softened, and they are open to your word and wisdom. I pray that you become the most important in their lives and every decision they make is made with your wisdom.
God, I ask that you help me be more like you every day. When I stray or put me before I ask that you guide me back and remind me that you are knower of all and the hand the turns the world. In Jesus Name I Pray, Becky of Marble Hill.
No comments:
Post a Comment