Last week was frustrating for a number of reasons. My body hurts, I'm very eager to be done with my pregnancy and holding my baby, customers at work weren't exactly kind and I dwelled on those things a whole lot more than I should have.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
I was doing the complete opposite of that. I was thinking of whatever was inconvenient, whatever was discouraging, whatever was frustrating, whatever hurt my feelings, whatever left me feeling impatient and those were the things that were consuming me. It's hard to write a blog, especially a christian blog that's meant to be encouraging, when you're attitude is contrary to scripture.
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
Luke 6:45 NASB
This verse was complete truth for me. My mouth spewed out my frustrations, my inconveniences, my pain etc. What was negative and displeasing was what filled my heart, and that's all I could manage to get out.
Facebook has a feature they released that is called "On This Day" and it allows you to see status', pictures, videos, and other things you've posted over the years. My "On This Day" recently was a big, humbling, embarrassing, wake up call for me. There have been MANY posts in my memories over the years that have said vague, yet negative things such as "I'm so sick of people today!" Or "why do people have to be so rude?!" Or "Man I hate this job today!" Or other things of the sort. Looking back on those things, I have no idea what it was that caused me to have a bad attitude that day. I can't remember was upset me so much so I felt the need to post a status about it. I don't remember who I was sick of, or who was rude. I don't remember why I was hating my job so much, or why I felt the need to vent it on facebook, and although I'm still guilty of it sometimes, seeing that my memories over the years were negative, was a huge wake up call for me. We all have frustrating days, but do I really need to vent my frustrations vaguely on facebook (or on Facebook at all)?! What about outwardly? Do I need to go around venting my frustrations and bad attitude to those around me?
God designed my brain in a funny way. While I was having my ugly attitude, not only did scripture come to mind, but also a scene from one of the Shrek movies. In the scene Shrek and Donkey are being arrested when Donkey says:
"You're supposed to say I have the right to remain silent! No one said I have the right to remain silent!"
To which Shrek replied:
"Donkey! You HAVE the right to remain silent, what you lack is the capacity!"
So for last week's blog, I exercised the right to remain silent.
“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Psalms 141:3 NASB
We all have times that are frustrating. I'd venture to say we all encounter frustrating things, discouraging things, stressful things, hurtful things on a very regular basis, but do we need to constantly vent about them? Do we need to post about it, or take it out on other people? Does every negative thing need to be expressed outwardly? Do we need to let those things be what consumes our thoughts until they spill out of our mouths (or hands).
I pray that if you're like me, if you struggle with letting the negative things eat away at you until they consume your thoughts, you'll be reminded to give it to God. I pray that you'll be able to seek Him for help with thinking about the lovely things instead, and I pray, that until my attitude (or yours) changes, you will be able to remember that you have the right to remain silent.
In His Love,
Rosalynn
No comments:
Post a Comment