Have you ever had one of those days when you knew it was going to be a struggle when your feet hit the floor? Yeh, I had one of those yesterday, I am praying that it stays in yesterday, where it belongs.
I am currently studying through the book of Matthew. A few days a ago I was digging into Matthew 5:38-48. As I read, But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (Matthew 5:39), I thought to myself, hmmmm I wonder what the Greek word is for evil in this verse? So I looked it up…
Poneros
- full of labours, annoyances, hardships
- pressed and harassed by labours
- bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble
- bad, of a bad nature or condition
- in a physical sense: diseased or blind
- in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad
Wow.
I read this definition and looked up to my husband and said, well I just learned something… imagine that I was studying the Word and I learned something (lol). To which he replied, you know that just proves that this is a living Book, you take any other textbook that size and study it for years and you know it… but this Book… no matter how long you study it you never stop learning from it… you never know it all.
Yes, this Book is indeed a living a Word.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
So as I learned that an “evil” person, could very well be that stressed out, weighed down, over-worked, person in front of me driving two miles an hour down an unpassable road… or that person that is crawling their buggy through the center of the isle and blocking everyone else on both sides and all I really want to do is get in and get out because I hate shopping as it is… I need to not be overcome by the emotions of my own evil (annoyed, stressed, overworked, weighed down) flesh that begin to rise up in my gut and in my throat and make my neck do that twitching thing…because if I do… out of my mouth will come things that Jesus would not say.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21
Yesterday I felt the enemy jump on my back at daybreak. The sun barely up and I knew he would be messing with me. I knew it and still I snapped. I knew it was him… and still I was overcome… I fought the “mood” but there were moments when I decided that succumbing would feel much better… so I did, I let evil overcome me, and then on the radio I heard, “when they see me, do they see You?”
I wanted to roll my eyes and say, oh shut up, to the radio. But instead I tweeted the song lyric. And said, yes Lord.
I got home and more irritating- annoying- frustrating- things happened… and once again I was overcome as I sent an “I quit, they can do this on their own” text message to my bestie and partner in messes of all sorts…
Then later at home while even more irritating- annoying- frustrating- things happened… once again I was overcome as I snapped in my flesh at my youngest who was in the midst of being beyond giddy because a prize she had been saving for over a year was finally hers and she needed help with it…
My husband checked me on my attitude.
And well that just really ticked me off!
So once again, I had to say, yes Lord.
I went upstairs for a while and took care of one of the “burdens” that was weighing me down… the laundry. After I accomplished that and spent some time breathing and letting the Spirit of God readjust my attitude… I came down the stairs a little lighter.
I am thankful for my God and for His Son and His Spirit…
I am thankful that the Word of God is living and active always and we never are finished learning and being taught and guided by it… and I am thankful for Matthew 6:33…
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I am to seek HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS not my own.
You see, I have none. I am a complete wreck. This flesh has the ability to wreak havoc in my mind, body, and soul. It has the ability to destroy my character and my integrity and my testimony. It really just profits me absolutely nothing, and I can’t wait for the day it is removed from me. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t look for my Jesus in the sky… searching the horizon… straining my ears for the sound…
Come quickly Lord Jesus. Come quickly.