June, 2008 Managing Your Emotions
Week 1 Jumping to Right Conclusions
Week 2 Remembering that God is the Lord of the Hills and the Valley
Week 3 Holding on to Your Possession
Week 4 Responding Wisely to Annoyances (and Swarming Gnats)
Week 1: Jumping to Right Conclusions
I quickly turned on the air conditioner as high as it would go after getting in the car this past Sunday morning to go to church. Summer has definitely arrived and is making its presence felt in Florida. I was alarmed to hear an unusual sound coming from the air conditioner and immediately became concerned that it was not working correctly. I turned it down low, then to the highest setting, and afterward to many settings in between, but the sound continued. Could this be an expensive repair? We just had to replace our clothes dryer and I certainly hoped the air conditioner would not be next!
Annoyed and perplexed, I finally just turned the air conditioner off and, to my surprise, noticed that the noise was still there. Then, I realized what had happened. I had, unknowingly, bumped the radio knob when I turned on the air conditioner. The volume was set very low and I was tuned in to a channel that yielded only static. The very slight static sound that I heard was not a broken air conditioner after all. How relieved I was! How did this happen? On a previous day, I had tried to tune in to a station I rarely listen to. While trying to find it, I became concerned with the rush hour traffic, and in an effort to concentrate on my driving, turned the volume very low, and then finally turned the radio off. Therefore, the next time I turned the radio on, all I heard was static.
How often do we jump to wrong conclusions, make errant decisions, and endure needless anxiety because we aren’t tuned in to God’s voice? Without being tuned in to Him we are left with the irritating, meaningless static of a dissonant world which has fallen from God’s best. Just because we are not listening to God’s voice doesn’t mean we won’t hear anything at all. Our culture, the politicians, magazines, television, coworkers, and even commercials are all sending messages. The messages do not have to be blatantly contradictory to the message of the Bible to confuse. In fact, it is often those that are very subtle that are most likely to distort our thinking. If I had heard someone talking or singing, I would have immediately known the radio was on. My wrong conclusion, however, was believable because the sound of a low level of static can actually resemble the sound made by something that is malfunctioning.
Though my discovery of the real problem only took seconds, it often takes longer to come to the realization that we may be making life changing decisions based on wrong perceptions. Sadly, many never recognize it and spend their lives in confusion, often not even realizing the source of their problems.
You and I can get really distracted with the busyness of life and, as a result, cease trying to hear God’s voice. If you are living 24/7 in “rush hour traffic”, I encourage you to pull off the road and get that connection with God established before resuming your “travel.”
“Be still, and know that I am God; . . . “ (Psalm 46:10 NKJV).
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. . . . I know My sheep, and am known by My own. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:11,14,27 NKJV).
God created us with a void that only He can fill through a personal acceptance of and relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. That connection with God through His Son is available. Once you have found it, stay tuned in, and listen regularly.
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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Week 2: Remembering that He is God of the Hills and the Valley
Sometimes we suddenly and unexpectedly find ourselves in a valley, without the human strength or stamina to climb the mountain ahead. It just seems insurmountable. That is where we as a family found ourselves on Thursday morning, June 5, 2008. That particular morning we learned that our 39 year old nephew had gone to be with the Lord, leaving behind a beautiful wife and three precious young children.
It is not difficult to see God in the mountaintop experiences of life, but in the valley, questions often abound.
When I read the designated passage for June 5 in my Daily Devotional Bible that day, I experienced, yet again, the power, precision, comfort and relevance of God’s word.
1 Kings 20 describes the Israelite’s recent victory over the Syrian army. That victory took place in the hills and the highlands of that region. So, the Syrians reasoned that it would be a good idea to attack the Israelites a second time, but this time in the valley. Their plan was based on a common, but erroneous theological assumption.
“Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, ‘Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they’” (1 Kings 20:23 NKJV).
” . . . Now the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the countryside” (1 Kings 20:27 NKJV).
“Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Because the Syrians have said, ‘The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,’ therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'" ( 1 Kings 20:28 NKJV).
How timely and timeless God’s word is! On Thursday morning, God reminded me of the same truth the Syrians discovered and the Israelites experienced thousands of years ago. He is God of the hills and the valleys. This truth didn’t remove every painful aspect from their time in the valley and it won’t remove it for us. But, this text reminded me that the Lord is in touch with every situation and circumstance of life.
The Israelites were like “two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the countryside” for seven days. Those seven days must have seemed like an eternity while facing what appeared to be overwhelming odds. The number seven in the Bible is associated with completion. In seven days God brought fulfillment to the world He had created. After seven years of famine, God brought relief to His people. Though it seems unlikely now, I know that in time, we too, will gradually begin to experience some relief from the deep grief we are now feeling.
Paul so eloquently describes the painful valley experience from a Christian perspective.
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed -- knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, . . . (2 Corinthians 4:8,9,14 NKJV)
We, too, are perplexed . . . but not forsaken. Psalm 23 reassures us of this as well.
“ . . . though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, . . . You are with me;” (Psalm 23:4 NKJV).
If you, also, are in the valley right now, I pray that you will be encouraged by knowing that He is God of the valley too. May we all experience His supernatural comfort in the midst of our pain, and “know” in the deepest sense that He truly is the Lord (1 Kings 20:28).
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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Week 3:Holding on to Your Possession
For a time, our lanai held boxes from my husband’s office. These have now been placed in a storage unit as we await the completion of our new church auditorium and office complex. Once again, I am enjoying watching the sun rise, listening to the birds sing, and beginning my day in prayer there. Monday evening, I was telling my husband how much I was enjoying the use of the lanai again. While elaborating on what a calming way this was to start my day each morning, I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, a long, black snake moving very slowly through the lanai. I was gripped with the fear that a snake could be waiting for me early each morning. After some investigation, we noticed that the screen door is not flush with the lanai floor on one side, thereby creating an opening for a snake.
Have you ever just expressed thanks for something when circumstances promptly threaten to reverse your blessing? Do you give in to it and say, “There goes that blessing”? Or, do you aggressively deal with the obstacle to your blessing?
Revelation 20:2 makes reference to another serpent who is called the Devil and Satan. He is real and has as his sole purpose to steal, kill, and destroy your blessing.
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJV).
What a contrast of lifestyles are offered here! “Abundantly” comes from a Greek word meaning “over and above, more than is necessary.” Jesus is a blessing giver while that old serpent, the Devil, is a blessing robber. Apart from our salvation, one of the greatest possessions we have is the promise of the victory that is available through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV).
Walking in victory, though, is not a given. It will be enjoyed by those who zealously desire it and resist anything that threatens to hinder it.
I suggested to my husband that we deal with the snake by approaching the door of the lanai from the yard so as not to encounter the snake in any way. Then, I suggested we simply leave the door open so he would find his way out. My husband, on the other hand, immediately and decisively dealt with the snake in a different and much more effective manner. He walked right past the snake, opened the door and then confidently swept the snake right out the door with a broom. The nonpoisonous snake was happy to oblige and slithered out.
Had we followed my plan, the snake would have probably have taken up a lengthy residence in our shady lanai and I would have missed out on many days of spending my early morning time in prayer there.
The old serpent, the Devil, is left among us for now, but we can resist and he will flee.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NKJV).
We must be bold, aggressive, and confident in our resistance to the devil. Some tried and trusty tools that always send the serpent fleeing are Praise, the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:11)
Whenever we notice any emotion, thought, or action robbing us of the victory that is ours in Christ, we must act immediately. The next step is to find the opening that Satan used to affect our thoughts, emotions, and actions, and close it off.
How serious are you about living a life characterized by victory? The task of resisting that old serpent, the devil, requires a confident, disciplined mindset and self control, but the benefits of doing so far outweigh the disadvantage of relinquishing the victory that is rightfully ours.
Join me in determining to be satisfied with nothing less than the abundant, “over and above” life that God wants us to have!
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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Week 4: Responding Wisely to Annoyances (and Swarming Gnats)
It appeared I would not get my walk in again yesterday, but at 8:00 pm my husband insisted we make time for it. Severe storms and heavy rain had moved through the area, and the sky, a beautiful array of soft, pastel colors, created a beautiful backdrop for an evening walk. Toward the end of our third mile and in the middle of a sentence, I immediately stopped talking. We had unexpectedly encountered a heavy swarm of gnats. The approaching darkness somewhat disguised their presence, but I could feel them all around my face and could also hear the soft humming sound typical of swarming gnats. It seemed the best way to deal with this unwelcome interruption was to simply keep our mouths closed and move away from them as quickly as possible. Consequently, we jogged for quite a distance in silence until we no longer felt their presence.
It’s not just the big things that shut us down, change our plans, affect our enjoyment of life, and influence our mood. These responses are often brought about by an accumulation of small, but unexpected, uncomfortable, and annoying circumstances.
In 1959, a swarm of gnats attacked Orioles' pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm during a game at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The game was stopped while a trainer swatted at the gnats with a towel. Finally, smoke bombs were used and the game resumed.
Swarms of gnats are disruptive and difficult to deal with. While there may be times, such as the previous example, when that which is annoying must be aggressively dealt with, there are also times when it’s best just to move away from the situation as quickly as possible.
In 1946, during the second game between the Cubs and Dodgers at Ebbets Field, Dodgers' pitcher Kirby Higbe was attacked by a swarm of gnats. The field was cleared and the game called.
Regardless of the circumstances, however, the one precaution that should always be taken is keeping the mouth closed while in the midst of the annoying attack.
This is Biblical advice as well.
“You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2 NKJV).
“He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3 NKJV).
“A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul”
(Proverbs 18:7 NKJV).
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23 NKJV).
“I said, ‘I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me’” (Psalm 39:1 NKJV).
Had we opened our mouths in the midst of the gnat swarm, what started as an annoyance would soon have become a complicated problem. Responding to frustrating situations or people with unnecessary words also brings its own set of repercussions. Sometimes, we just need to “zip it.”
According to Ecclesiastes 3:7, there is a time to speak and a time to keep silence. We need God’s guidance on what to say and when to say it. There is a time to speak, but when the issue is simply one of being annoyed and nothing greater, it’s probably not worth it.
If you, like me, find this extremely difficult, try this . . .
The next time you find yourself experiencing a swarm of annoying circumstances, think about how distasteful it would be to swallow a mouthful of gnats . . . and then pray . . .
“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips”
(Psalm 141:3 NKJV).
©2008 Lauren Fletcher all rights reserved
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