The fact of the matter is, sometimes it isn't easy, it isn't easy at all! There are factors which come into life and they move us in ways which distort our view or rearranges our focus and we loose sight of what we should choose, what we know to be the best choice. UGG... life sometimes just bumps right into the best of intentions and soils the whole situation.
I am thinking on this today as I'm going to a meeting this evening where there are a few people who have made some very poor choices. I work with elected officials and well, lemme just be honest. You watch enough news I'm sure this will not come as a huge revelation or shock to you ~ political figures do not often think before they speak and in many cases they speak with ego rather than common sense and concern for others and their feelings. That being said, there were a few instances in the past few weeks where elected officials said things that just really colored them in a poor way. They did themselves no justice in what they said and in fact made themselves look worse and the situation look uglier.
I am sorry that it is often at their expense I am taught a very good lesson. We must not always say what we think. And we must not always toss in our two cents for the sake of being heard. Sometimes our choice needs to be STOP. Sometimes our choice needs to be LISTEN. And sometimes our choice needs to be BE STILL.
Today as the "issue" is revving up for one of these individuals it saddens me as they are a member of my church and how I would very much like to share with them, they are not only making themselves look bad, they are making their community and their Jesus look bad too. SIGH. How do we share with someone, they are in a place of public view and with that comes a gift! You have the opportunity to be a direct reflection of Jesus. You could choose JOY, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, GRACE and being HUMBLE and oh my stars the path which would lay out before you.
I feel compelled however to choose to BE STILL. It is not my battle to fight, and it is not my place to point out their poor behavior & actions. I would not choose to break them down. If I felt I could approach them with the kindness and concern I truly do feel and have them receive my words with understanding I would. They are not such a people.
Today, as I begin my day and look forward, I am trusting Jesus, who tells me HE KNOWS the plans he has for me. I must choose for myself, and not for others. That isn't to say I couldn't and don't pray their eyes would be open and their hearts touched by the holy spirit, so they may recognize the damage they are doing not only to themselves as a person, but as a follower of Jesus.
Today my prayer is over those who do not see when they are in the direct vision of others, for those who do not realize we are Jesus in skin, and our lives should be a reflection of Him, we should walk as though we walk with Jesus, daily. Not just on Sunday. Our actions, words and deeds must be reflective of our relationship with Jesus ~ today for them and for myself as well I pray TO CHOOSE MORE OF YOU LORD & LESS OF ME.
"For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11