EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:
Debra Eddings, Guest Writer.
“Guard What You Think”
I have lived over half a century, and it seems I still struggle with some of the same things that run through my mind over and over. Even though I know some of this stuff, I just need to remember – in every season of life, some truths just have to be revisited and reinforced. Here are some that I’ve moved to the front of the line these days.
Life doesn’t rise and fall on my perfection. The scripture says in John 14:6, Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” He is the focus for perfection. Though I give Him my best daily, I may make a mistake. Good news is our mistakes are not fatal. We can try and fail. It’s ok! Sometimes this very point keeps me up at night. Especially when I have a big event that I’m in charge of. Will everything go as planned? Will everyone involved do their part? The answers to those questions are not worth the sleep that is being lost.
I can’t control the outcome of every situation. It is probably best that I don’t! I am not the Sovereign God of the Universe that operates out of the knowledge of all things. God has been, is, and always will be, in control. I have to trust Him for these outcomes. All I can do is my best to plan and execute and then let it go. Or pray for others that are dealing with their own situations and trust that God is hearing and answering in His perfect will. There may be an outcome that will be better in the long run. Far better than I could have ever foreseen.
I don’t own other people’s choices. Everyone gets to be themselves. No matter how much I want to make a choice for someone, I can’t. God has put me in the roles of daughter, sister, wife, mother, teacher, friend. These roles have given me platforms of influence. I don’t take that lightly. But there is a balance to how much guidance we can offer and when. Once that guidance is given, I can’t let it eat me up when someone chooses to do something else. This is difficult but freeing.
So, “Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy…think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8).