Friday, August 27, 2010

Best and Worst

One day this week, I drove Brenna to school. Don't worry, I'm not picking favorites, McKayla chose to ride the bus anyway - go figure! Brenna had a project that we needed to get to the school in once piece, so I decided the bus wasn't a safe option for our little mouse and cheese made from clay. I remember toting a project to school a time or two and being a nervous wreck that it would get destroyed before I ever descended the steps of the school bus. Busses and projects are a dangerous combination!

After dropping her off, I stopped at the local country store to get my morning jolt of caffeine and saccharin. As I paid the clerk, she spoke the usual empty small talk that we all do while handing me my change.

"You have a good day."

My normal reply to this statement is probably the same as yours, but this particular day, something came out of my mouth, that wasn't from me, because, frankly, I'm not that wise! It left me thinking about the meaning of the statement as I walked to my car and drove off into the wild blue yonder of the working world.

My normal response on any given day would have been the empty "You too," but not this day. Without thought, I said -

"I'm gonna make the best of it!"

"Ok?" she replied, sounding a little uncertain.

"'Cause if I don't - it will make the WORST of me."

How true that is. If I don't make the best of my circumstances and situations and choose to live in them as God would have me to, the worst of me comes to the surface. Once that happens, it's all down hill from there. It greatly affects my perspective and focus on things around me that I cannot control. I cannot control the attitudes and reactions of others, but I can control whether or not I participate or assume that same attitude. That is not the "me" I want them to see.

As you face this day, I am not going to tell you to simply "Have a good day!" I challenge you to make the best of it, so that it doesn't "make the worst of you."

How do we do that?

By taking every thought captive as we they present themselves. Just because I think it, doesn't mean I have to say it or do it. Make that thought obedient to Christ before you ever act on it. This is what we are instructed to do in 2 Corinthians 10:5 "we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ".

Why do it this way? Bend an ear with me to another verse, 2 Corinthians 4:5 NLT.

"You see, we don't go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are servants for Jesus'sake."

My responses, attitudes, and reactions are going to preach something to the people I encounter daily. I no longer preach about myself, I am preaching with my life for Jesus' sake, not my own. I am sending a bigger message to others than only the surface conversation or comments. My reactions and attitudes are a clear example of just how much power Jesus has in my life. If they don't see that light inside me switched to "ON", they will assume that He is not really a source of power and strength. I may not have spoken a lie with my tongue, but I have told a lie with my life and left that person with no hope for herself.

It really is about more than our everday situations, it's about making the best of them so that people see that He is real, He is still working, He still applies, He is still relevant. He is not outdated.

MAKE THE BEST OF IT TODAY!

Love,



Royal Princess Daughter Of The King
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3 comments:

  1. God spoke to me about this very same thing this morning. A few weeks ago, I heard someone say that they practice the presence of Jesus every day.

    Imagine Jesus at your side throughout all of the day to day stuff. How would that change the words that come out of our mouths? If Jesus was beside us how would that change how we spent our time? How would our attitudes be?

    I think what we fail to understand, is that He is right there. As believers in Christ, He is always with us.

    Great post, Amy, I really needed to read this today!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am glad it spoke to you, the thought sure changed by perspective on the mundane parts of my daily life.
    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I woke up this morning, the verse "redeeming the time because the days are evil," rang through my mind. So I focused on making the most of this day. I got a lot of the important (rather than the urgent) things done. Reading your post is a great confirmation of how God is leading me in this season. Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete

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