Monday morning. Things are going smoothly, and traffic actually isn’t too bad. You exhale and turn on some Third Day so you can relax and rock out all the way the office…which is right about the time some jerk passes you on the right, cuts you off, and then starts driving 10mph under the speed limit directly in front of you. After all that!? REALLY?? Ok, so now you feel the blood rushing up to your face and your ears are burning and your heart is pounding all in what feels like a millisecond and you don’t even think twice about what you are about to say. *********
FREEZE!! Can you see that picture of yourself? With both hands gripping the steering wheel, mouth wide open, face all contorted, lookin’ all crazy? Good. Now pause || and take a deep breath. You know your blood pressure is rising just with the thought of it!
Kind of reminds you of the time that you were standing in line at your least favorite place on earth (Wal-Mart) and they had 2 stinking cashiers on a Friday evening. 2! And that lady (with the shopping cart heaped so high with stuff that it’s leaning sideways) basically broke into a light jog when she saw you approaching Lane 7 just a few steps before her. In fact, if you hadn’t slowed down, she would have rolled right over you! The words were right on the tip of your tongue and then you received a text message that diverted your attention…
Maybe it’s your mom, or your co-worker telling you about her crappy day. Maybe it’s an annoying ex-boyfriend, or a friend from when you were a kid. But that would be far too simple, of course. Consider this: what if the sender was Jesus? What exactly do you think that text would say in that moment?
Let’s keep it real. You know you wish you could give people like the ‘Monday-Morning-Crasher’ and the ‘Wal-Martian Marathoner’ a big piece of your mind! If you have any self-control at all, you probably will refrain from cussing up a storm or smackin’ somebody’s mama across the room. But still – you know there are lots of things you can say and do that might not get you kicked out of the store or escorted to jail, but are far short of ‘kind.’ Bet you’ve used this one: “She better be glad I’m a Christian!!” Classic! You’ve probably changed quite a bit since your pre-Christian days. But it sure doesn’t mean that things don’t work your absolute last nerve sometimes! And you know that it’s not anything you did to get out of that old person’s ways, but it is the Holy Spirit teaching you all things as Jesus said he would.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
His teaching does not just consist of God’s word and scholarly things, but also his character and principles of which we should be imitating daily. I used to say things like, “well I ain’t Jesus! I can’t be like him!” Well that’s just an excuse, no better than the one where people justify someone’s crude behavior by saying, “oh that’s just the way he/she is. You have to get to know him/her.” As if being a complete donkey is ok just because “that’s the way he/she is.” Really? No. Don’t buy that pile of crap. So maybe we can’t be exactly like Jesus, since we are still in the flesh after all – but we sure can strive to follow his example in all that we say and do so that we can become more like him. That’s what a disciple of Jesus Christ does, isn’t it?
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1
So back to lane 7…what’s your text say?
My first thought about what mine says is “don’t…even…THINK about it.” Just like that. He knows me – my every thought. Now that would definitely stop me in my tracks to get that text! And in that moment, when I may not have otherwise been able to take that second to stop and think about the consequences, I would remember why flipping out on somebody and getting carried off on the swift breeze of my erratic emotions is just not a choice I want to make. But it sure does feel great during those times that you do actually stop yourself, see the effects that would have been had you continued, and make the choice that you know you are supposed to be making – following his example as you know it.
Do not let your mouth lead you to sin. Ecclesiastes 5:6
Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9
I’ve thought of many other texts I think he might send me at many points of my life. At the top of the list:
- What do you think you are doing?
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9
- Stop. Let me handle it. I GOT THIS!
It is mine to avenge, I will repay. Deuteronomy 32:35
- Don’t say those things about yourself. You are mine, and you are beautiful.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4
- Believe.
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40
- I love you…
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
- You have to forgive her. I forgave you, didn’t I?
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
- I haven’t heard from you in a while. We need to spend some time together now.
Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deuteronomy 6:12
- It’s ok. I have already forgiven you for that.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing; Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:18
- Remember my promise: I said I would never leave you.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. Isaiah 41:10
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
- It’s a lie. Don’t listen to him. Listen to me!
When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
- I know it hurts right now. But I will work it out for your good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
- That voice you just heard? Yes. That was me. And I meant it.
My sheep listen to my voice: I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
So many of those would help me so much to receive them on those tough days…the ones where I can’t believe I’m still single and I’m, quite frankly, kind of tired of it! The days where you’re just overwhelmed with being a single parent and it would be kind of nice to have a little help every now and then! Or the days where you’re actually not single for the first time in a minute and kind of excited about a potential relationship…until they randomly do something stupid, reveal a deal-breaker quality about themselves, or just rip your heart out of your chest with the “it’s not you, it’s me” conversation. On those days, a text from my TRUE love (Jesus) would be nice to bring things back into perspective, keep me from doing, saying, or thinking something dumb, and just make me feel better and remember that everything is going to be ok.
Ok so maybe he’s not going to text you. Maybe he’s not going to shoot you an email, or inbox you on Facebook. But you already know that he speaks, and is always speaking in all kinds of ways. Sometimes it’s that small, still voice inside that only you can hear. Sometimes it’s through someone else, or a word that he gave to your pastor, or a scripture that you just couldn’t get out of your head. Sometimes he speaks by showing you things and bringing something that you read or heard before to your remembrance. Sometimes he’s speaking to prepare you for trouble, or to bring you out of it, or to help you avoid it all together! That voice, that ‘knowing,’ that relief, that soothing balm is the voice of the Lord, the Voice of Truth through his Holy Spirit. He speaks to us in ways that we will understand at each particular point in our lives, and he always meets us right where we are. It’s awesome that he’s there. It’s awesome that he even cares, and takes the time to speak to us and lead us through our experience in this world and in our flesh until the day that he returns; and faster than the blink of an eye, we are given new bodies like his…and that brings great comfort to my soul.
Don’t be afraid while you wait for me. Take heart, persevere, find your strength and rest in me. I’m OMW. 😉
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha, and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:12
~Stacey
Living - Phenomenally. 