A Slap in the Face

"Approach problems with a light touch. When your mind moves toward a problem area, you tend to focus on that situation so intensely that you lose sight of Me. You put yourself against the difficulty as if you had to conquer it immediately. Your mind gears up for battle, and your body becomes tense and anxious. Unless you achieve total victory, you feel defeated." - Jesus Calling Devotional.

   How many times have I mentioned gearing up for battle? Like at least 100 times. This is God slapping me in the face. He likes to do that I'm noticing. When I see a problem coming or a situation that I know is going to be hard, I gear up. I get tense and my mind immediately focuses on how I am going to over come it. Which is not the correct way to respond. Approaching a problem lightly is not something that is in my instinct. I see a problem and I charge at it head on, with all I've got. Then I wonder why I'm exhausted at the end of it. 

   You'd think I would have learned by now that I should walk lightly, knowing that MY GOD will fight this battle by my side. That means that the battle has already been won. Sometimes I go about problems as if God is on the sidelines watching. I feel as if God has equipped me and now I'm supposed to fight, just me and the enemy. Where did I get this from? It's definitely not in the Bible. 

"There is a better way. When a problem starts to overshadow your thoughts, bring this matter to Me. Talk with me about it and look at it in the Light of My Presence. This puts much needed space between you and your concern...You will always face trouble in this life. But more importantly, you will always have Me with you, helping you to handle whatever you encounter."-Jesus Calling Devotional

   It's true, God has equipped me to fight this battle, but not alone. I have been trained and equipped to fight side by side with my Creator. That brings so much peace to scary situations. He did not create us to fight alone. We were meant to be united, to fight together. 

   I've been told many times by my parents, " Pick your battles wisely." In other words, I don't have to fight or get to the bottom of very situation. That is exhausting and unnecessary. Knowing which battles to fight can be tough. But when I am close to God, looking to Him, side by side, only then will the decision to fight or turn the other cheek be obvious. 

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33