Today I
woke up late, because I had awoken early. I got started off kilter
and it seemed like dominoes that were set up to fall in a line but
with one or two off space from the others. I tried to push through
because I realized that wet laundry in the bottom of the basket of
dry clothes was just that, wet. I could put it in the dryer and
continue with the day.
I made an attempt at explaining to someone who
was running on their own path in another direction and so we just
missed one another. All would be well I had my Bible sitting on the
coffee table waiting for me, I grabbed my morning beverage and sat on
the comfy couch and began reading what I expected to be my quick
Monday Morning Read before studying for this article I write on
Mondays. The word was from the book of Jeremiah in the first few
chapters. It was gripping and rather annoyingly long at the same
time. I realized it was good for me to see this particular spot as it
chronicled the many reasons God was about to 'get' the people He
loved and went on to share how much He loved them.

They
were fixing a repaired road from
yesterday's broken water main. I turned and made my way around the traffic only to stop at the next traffic light, and the next two. I was finally getting near the freeway and was reminded of a person I was supposed to be picking up. Oops, I forgot! "Okay Lord, thank you for that delay, I would have been to the school by now if I had not been slowed this far."
yesterday's broken water main. I turned and made my way around the traffic only to stop at the next traffic light, and the next two. I was finally getting near the freeway and was reminded of a person I was supposed to be picking up. Oops, I forgot! "Okay Lord, thank you for that delay, I would have been to the school by now if I had not been slowed this far."
Around
the corner came more delays and we barely got the kids to school on
time. I sat in the car a few moments thinking of all I had to do
still this day and breathed a word of thanks to God.
We
cannot always see the reason we are slowed, often times there is an
accident or two, that get in our way miles before we reached the spot
we would have been in the middle of when the crash happened. It could
have been us.
Just
because all those things got in my way it was not a reason to be a
jerk, or yell at anyone. I could have been a brat, but instead I
chose to look to God and know that there was a reason in it. I could
sit and cry about the wet laundry but instead I chose to throw them
in the dryer and take care of the situation. I had to remind myself
to stop being upset and make the choice to rejoice!
So how
can we do this all the time? Or can we?
Well
first we can stop what we are doing; stop complaining, stop whining,
stop being selfish.
It's not
about me. Go ahead say it out loud, “It's not about me!'
Then
make the choice to accept that obstacle as from the Lord.
Its
about His purpose, His direction and His path laid out for us today.
It is
not always easy to do this step; it's often impossible to do alone,
but with God all things are possible.
Remind
yourself with a quick prayer to God to give you direction who you are
following.

The
spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.
Thank
God the flesh was weak, in this case God pushed through and the Holy
Spirit was heard as I stopped at another light and accepted aloud
that it was God's plan slowing me.
So once
you have accepted that He has planned or ordered our steps then we
need to follow the path with peacefulness, not worry, not stressful
reactions but with calmness of attitude and prayer.
Once we
realize God has a reason, even if we never see it; He will keep in
perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. So we must keep our mind
out of the trash bin of emotions and into the comfort of His arms.
You will
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he
trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

It is
not about me! It is not about you either! It is about doing His will,
His timing is perfect.
As we go
through today we will find many hurdles, bushes and rocks in our way;
especially if you made the choice to follow Jesus' directions not
selfish desires today. The enemy wants us to cause trouble so he will
be dropping boulders left and right trying to cause us to stumble so
we can remind ourselves how rotten a day it is. God has overcome this
enemy and so can we because God is on our side!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the signs to expect delays today. Thank you that you can give us direction and peace when we remember to look to you in all our situations. Thank you for stopping me from being a jerk today! Help us all to keep the peace that comes from you.
In Jesus name. Amen.
Suggested
Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:1-14, Psalm 37:1-40, Isaiah 26:1-21, and
Zephaniah 3:1-20