What's wrong with me? When I'm sick I get grumpy and irritable. When I'm criticised I become defensive. When people interrupt me I become impatient. I get angry at injustice. Waiting in lines, and bureaucratic runarounds make me feel I'm wasting my life.
I've had a few good days. Days when I caught up on the ironing, my eczema cleared up, I managed to write a few letters, got top marks on an assignment, and finished with an enjoyable game of Scrabble.
I try to pray on the bad days, but my prayers don't get anywhere. On good days I feel aglow with the presence of God. Why can't I have more good days?
But I've been thinking that maybe my 'good' days are the 'blah' ones spiritually... holidays from the business of growing in love. Maybe in God's record book points are only scored on the horrible days when nothing seems to go right. Sure, I lost my temper, but I lasted 15 seconds longer than the previous time, and thus got 15 points overall. Whereas I got nothing for the day when everything went right. It was just a rest between battles.
James 1:2-3 says, "Rejoice when you fall into various temptations, knowing that trials teach patience."
It's not that I should go looking for battles. Even the Lord's prayer says I should pray that I not be put to the test spiritually. The good days are something to be thankful for. Without them, I would never make it. And I Corinthians 10:13 says one way to win battles is to run away from them.
But I can't run from all of them. And when I find myself in the middle of a test I cannot escape from, it pays to remember that this is a great opportunity to brush up on discipline, grow in patience, expand my ability to love. And the lessons I learn in the middle of these battles may count for all eternity.
On the test days I find out just how unspiritual I am; but that's good for my pride too. The main thing is to do a little better than last time. If I do, perhaps God will see it and note my progress.
But I'm probably boring you with all this, since this is my special problem. Or is it?
Dave McKay is a co-founder of a Christian community. website: jesuschristians.com
bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..One of our most active senses is sight. What we... Read More
We have often missed the mark because we believe we... Read More
Remember Des'ree? She had a great song out in 1994,... Read More
What is a paradigm? In my own words, a paradigm... Read More
A more positive future, a happier life, a body that's... Read More
Speaking comes to most people as naturally as breathing. On... Read More
How would your life shift if you moved into what... Read More
In speaking of comparison we need to be aware that... Read More
One often hears people say they can't sketch because they... Read More
In 1978, Erma Bombeck wrote a book entitled "The Grass... Read More
The other day one of my "challenging clients" and I... Read More
Do you really believe that there is anything in this... Read More
? Make a list of all your accomplishments in life... Read More
I'm getting calls from folks who say, "I hear you... Read More
Recently a great idea popped into my head about creating... Read More
Turn brutality into kindness. There is no small deed and... Read More
One of things that Charismatic people share is an unshakeable... Read More
How you feel about yourself truly does affect your interaction... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
So, is this really where you thought you'd be? You're... Read More
As I swooshed down the Zoom Flume water slide at... Read More
For most of us our lives are a problem which... Read More
Peak Performance. It means being at the top of your... Read More
The late Norman Vincent Peale was a controversial preacher who... Read More
Millions struggle through life barely earning enough to survive. Many... Read More
insured cleaning company Wilmette ..Conflict is unavoidable. How we respond to it makes a... Read More
It has been said that CHANGE is THE only constant.... Read More
I started life writing in the fifth grade. My mother... Read More
When you have a case of FABS, it may be... Read More
In order for you to make positive ground daily you... Read More
Every emotion, wether we classify it as good or bad,... Read More
Bernard always had a problem with money.He was always lacking... Read More
The other evening, I was meticulously assembling and painting one... Read More
Why do patients who are given placebo pills report that... Read More
Turn brutality into kindness. There is no small deed and... Read More
P.M.A - so what is it? Some people will automatically... Read More
Today, I wanted to mention this notion of self-sabotage.I recently... Read More
In view of the increasing negative events happening around the... Read More
"For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is... Read More
A confidence crisis is looming with a recent study showing... Read More
Ever had the sense that there is more to life... Read More
"Putting ourselves down, is an insult to our worth." --Helen... Read More
Your response (reaction?) to change is conditioned by your entire... Read More
Byron and I started our first business full of enthusiasm... Read More
The most dangerous thing is illusion. ~ Ralph Waldo EmersonFailure... Read More
"If I have the belief that I can do it,... Read More
ARE YOU IN... OR OUT?Are you in or out of... Read More
Life is an enigma...It starts without our knowledge, grows without... Read More
When I was a young girl, my sister and I... Read More
Getting motivated is sometimes easy enough to do, at least... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |