Choosing Tranquility
" Can you even begin to think of the time, energy, and emotions you've wasted on the uncontrollable things in your life? I've certainly done my share of wishing, fretting, complaining, and trying to manipulate uncontrollable things and people. When I do that , I use up immense quantities of emotional energy for nothing when it could have been expended in a productive way.
Remember this: when the uncontrollable things or people in our lives are making us miserable, it is because we allow them to do that to us. They can't keep us on that roller coaster if we decide to get off. How do you get off? By choice,by a decision of your will, by much prayer, and by the power of God's Spirit within you. It takes determination on your part, but if you don't let God supply the power, you're not likely to be able to do it." Mary Whelchel -JOY FOR THE JOURNEY (I bold-faced certain words)
This is so true! Often I have found myself obsessing over a particular issue or 'problem person' in my life and realized I have lost sleep and energy, my thought life is consumed by the issue, to what gain? By giving this much time to the problem shows I have allowed IT to determine my days, my actions, my paths. Essentially, I have given power over my life to the very thing or person that has caused so much misery...now how sensible and sane is that? And here I cannot blame the offending party, I have made and acted on the CHOICE to hand myself over to it. And this also means I can choose to put the problem in proper perspective by handing it over to God for Him to do this , through prayer and contemplation of His ways , and then... act on it!
"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. " Philippians 4:8
18 comments:
The daily devotion from Joel Osteen earlier this week was Psalm 56:8. He called God our "Vindicator" who keeps track of all our sorrows and tears, all the wrongs committed against us so that we dont have to.
I have been very guilty of letting certain people bother me, and allowing myself to fret over what might be laying in front of me. This zaps my peace of mind, and drains my energy. These "things" should be given to God, it certainly is not MY job. Today I am good at remembering to be in my place, tomorrow, because I am human, it might take more effort.
God bless!
What a powerful post, Kathy~~~Thank you!
There is so much wasted time in worrying over things we have no control of anyway. It seems almost a natural human response, doesn't it?
One of the most comforting things (and at times the hardest) it to know that God is in Control and to just turn it over to Him.
There are times when just reciting The Lord's Prayer and really listening to those powerful words gives a sense of calm....
Thanks again, and have a Splendid Sunday, my friend~
Hugs and Blessings,
Lynn♥
~Let FREEDOM Ring!~
Most excellent post and so, so true! While I am very guilty, probably too guilty, of being wrong focused, I try, these days at least, to focus on the good, the true, the lovely.
Sometimes I'm even successful!
Yes, I've allowed myself to be held hostage by more than one circumstance in my life. As I get older, I think I carry more of it on the inside and I don't recover unscathed. I tell ladies in my Bible class; "If Satan can't get to you through your circumstances, he'll get to you through someone you love". And he has, over and over. Prayer is the only answer.
I will fall into that trap again, I'm sure. And my prayer life gets thin instead of thick. That's why He compares us to sheep;) He then has to step in and remind me who is the Shepherd and how important that is to me! Good post!
Debbie
Blessings to you!
The scripture you've ended your post with is one for good mental health.
A very good scripture indeed,
d
It's so true, we enable those who make us crazy by letting them get away with it! Lovely post.
What true and well written words you have posted. Yes, I have been struggling with things from the past that come back to visit me and I go over and over on them.....I know I need to follow your advice and let go and let God have it. Just loved your post! blessings,Kathleen
Thank you Kathy! It is so easy to get wrapped up in the moment and forget that we have a choice. Wonderful post.
Mildred, I am very good at trying to take back from God the burdens He takes from me....my limited mind set only causes more pain all around, He will care for us and He is the ultimate Vindicator. I just need to remember.
Mary,the thing is, no amount of fretting and worrying is going to change the people who might be causing me such distress, and the real power lays in letting go of this idea I have that 'they' should change. Real freedom and mental health comes in accepting the knowledge that theses problem situations or people will probably always remain the same and I need to adjust and act on my attitude and realistic assumptions they will not. Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised one day, but in the mean time, I will proceed with my life NOT counting on any other changes from the former, or allowing them undue power to ruin my days.
Lynn, just reading the Psalms is a help, and puts life into perspective. Thank-you.
Thistle Cove, the last line "sometimes I'm successful" should be my by-line! I have all I need in His Word, and a bit of knowledge of it, all I need do is remember and act on it, and trust!
Debbie, so true! "If Satan can't get to you through circumstances he'll get to you through someone you love." I think I will quote this line often!
Deanna, my mental health relies heavily on scripture and prayer. Thank-you.
Noble Pig, and then we give them the power to CONTINUE such bullying by mulling over their words, criticisms, etc...who needs enemies when we have ourselves?
Kathleen,you and me both! Blessings to you too Sister!
Shannon, Kenleigh Acres Fiber Studio,thank-you very much!
Wow, what a great post and one that comes at a time in my life when I needed to read such words. Thank you!
You've got it! Your thoughts and words hit home!!
That is a pit I have fallen into (or jumped into) far too many times. Help me, Lord, to TRUST YOU!
It's true Kathy. We can chose to let our emotions control us or we can try to overcome them.
I hate it when I let someone or something get in my head and try to control my thoughts.
Jennifer, Flower,Karen and Susie, my dear husband can tell you how I need to remember this ! He is often reminding me that if I have done what I can to remedy a situation, asked forgiveness if I have wronged someone, then I need to stop obsessing about it. I have wasted way to much time in my life over such nonsense...and am learning ( finally ) to get on with the more important and needful things. Like obsessing on the BLESSINGS and opportunities to BE a blessing to others God has given me.These things can fill my life quite well and also make me better company!
Helpful post. It seems that many of us have some trouble in the area of, "Letting go and letting God." Your words of wisdom sank in and your pictures bring such tranquility
May God bless us as we learn to "Let go!" I wonder if it will ever be easy.
Audrey
Thanks
Kathy, I agree with this post wholeheartedly. We can't control the actions of others and we can't always control our circumstances and the things that happen to us, but we can change how we react to them. It would do us all well to remember that.
Daisy, you said the key words. " We can't control the actions of others.' And really, we never will. So any attitude adjustments must come from us personally.....
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