Wasting Time

How often my brothers and sisters when questioned, challenged, or provoked about your faith, have you rushed to respond and defend? How often has anxiety, frustration, or pride, stirred emotions in you that are not of God? Was it righteous anger, or was it really just pride? Satan may try to put us on trial, but we have already been redeemed; rest in that.

Your intellect and reasoning will not cause a conversion, only the Holy Spirit can move like that. You have nothing in you that has any real power. You want to be powerful?  Die; die to self, be used, and let the Holy Spirit move in you and through you. You are a tool, not the Tool Maker.

Do you have someone in your life right now that is provoking you? Do you have a situation in your life that is causing you to rehearse conversations in your head, play out scenarios, and waste precious life on things out of your control? Do you have people close to you that judge you, ignore you, and possibly even hate you (with a smile)?

You need no affirmation from them, only Jesus Christ.

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:1-11)

Like Jesus, next time you get questioned (or even attacked), take a moment, draw in the sand, relax in the affirmation of Who's you are, and respond in love and Truth. If they don't listen; move on. Life is a gift and a mission; no need to waste time worrying about things (or people) that are out of your control. Get on your knees, thank Him for all your blessings, and daily give Him your baggage that you've accumulated.

“Why are we surprised when problems arise? Everything’s wrong until Jesus sets it right.” – AW Tozer

His,
~Matthew