The Choice We All Have

Things are heating up around here.

Lots of serious problems surfacing, bubbling, looming...

You all know those times, right?

Not that anything horrible HAS happened-

just issues, obstacles, tensions, curveballs, 

possible BIG problems coming...

It is in these moments
(especially for this mama at 5am...)

 that we all have a choice.

"Choice?" You say,

"All these problems and miseries are happening to me!"

"I have no choice!"

And yes, dear ones - you are right.

We don't have a choice in what is happening around us most times.

But we DO have a choice in how we respond.

TRUST

PEACE

JOY

REST

CONTENTMENT

LOVE

OBEDIENCE

Hmm.......

what does the Word of God say about worry?

And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure 

(cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?

Matthew 6:27(AMP)

So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:34 (AMP)

Ok - God it God.  Do not worry.
Do.Not.Worry.

BUT
what DO I DO?

Late at night when my defenses are down - 

when my heart is breaking

when tears loom up when I think about what is happening...

 What do I do????

It is in these moments that this choice is clear.

We can worry...

trust in our feelings...

let our thoughts carry us off...

let the emotions rule...

OR we can choose

how to think

how to behave

how to speak.

 We can choose!

Now, I'm saying that this is an easy choice to make.

Those fears are LOUD!

Those negative thoughts are RELENTLESS!

Those worries are HEAVY!

I love reading the psalms.

Not that David was a perfect man

but there is a transparency in how he shares with us.

In Psalm 42 I love how David speaks to his inner self-
Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.(v5)

 But then he goes on to say -
O my God, my life is cast down upon me [and I find the burden more than I can bear]; therefore will I [earnestly] remember You from the land of the Jordan [River] and the [summits of Mount] Hermon, from the little mountain Mizar.(v6)

Did you catch that?

He remembers! 
He remembers God's promises-
God's faithfulness in his own life-
 All the times that He has taken care of the situation-

We need to put before us rememberences of His faithfulness!

We need to speak of all He has done!

And yes, I even talk out loud
(and even yell sometimes)

 The louder the fear-
the stronger I will proclaim of His promises!

The stronger the worry-
the louder I will proclaim of His faithfulness!

I do want to pause briefly and say
I am not one for "casting out" fears, worries, etc.
I truly believe that light and darkness cannot coexist...
THEREFORE
if I speak of His goodness, His faithfulness, His promises, 
His truths, His holiness, His righteousness, His love...

are you getting it?

Are we clear?

Do you hear me, self?

My God is...
faithful
holy
righteous
merciful
unchanging
my defender
my comforter
love
truth
all-powerful
ever-present
sovereign
just

and so much more!

He is!

And, in giving not only my problems over to Him
but also surrendering my worries and fears
He is able to work.

Faithful God.

"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