We fight not against flesh and blood, but against. . .
We want what we want and are willing to sacrifice pleasing God – rather we choose man/friends/family/careers.
“because I called but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight, and chose that in which I did not delight.” ~Isaiah 66:4
We are not in a battle with people around us – our battle is within. . .feelings of unworthiness, the chatter that goes on in our heads telling us we can’t do this or that, that we’ll never be good enough, smart enough, wise enough, pretty enough, tall/thin enough, wise enough. . .we look at our assets as though they were liabilities. We find it difficult to believe that anything about us is ‘fearfully’ or ‘wonderfully’ made.
Contentment is hard to find, yet when we take time to rest in Jesus the reality is peace and contentment are as close as our next heartbeat. As close as opening our mouths and uttering the words “Lord, I need you.”
Quieting the silence within means that we are ‘still and know that [He] is God’. To be intentional in creating that space where we are not bombarded with our necessary or crazy thoughts – that we can temporarily wipe off the to do’s on the whiteboard of our mind and place an image of the Almighty God, Jehovah Jireh – who provides everything we need, including peace of mind.
God wants to speak to us more than we want to listen.
He is a God of love, and love longs to communicate.
—Linda Schubert
Are we more focused on pleasing men to gain their approval or that of God?
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” ~Galatians 1:10
Why do we allow the chatter to dominate our minds?
What steps do you take to ‘clear the whiteboard of your mind’ to enter into the rest God promises?
2 Comments
Debora
August 11, 2010 at 4:01 amWhen the negative chatter begans, I am quicker to realize what's up and I THANK. I would like to sound all holy and mighty, but that is not the case in this instance. The first thing I do is sing on put on some uplifting music. I am very careful with what I allow my ears to hear or my eyes to see.
I am one of those people who seem to have constant chatter and not always good chatter. Sometimes its stuff that need to be done. I call it unfinished business. But as I get stronger in the Lord the better I am at squashing it sooner. Praise is what I do…I just love to praise Him…..
shani
August 11, 2010 at 11:05 pmQuite honestly, I find myself in battle bewteen choosing to entertain 'the chatter' or not and sometimes I just go there… My prayer is that I will grow more mature in this area. My sacred place is the shower where I find rest in HIM and seek refuge and strength. Oh, how I love Him!