Proverbs 17:1
Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The older I get, the less I like crowds. And I’ll be honest, there a lots of times when I return home from an event or a gathering and collapse into a chair with a heavy sigh of relief that I am back in the quiet and stillness of our home… just me, my husband, and our two cats! A friend posted a quote on Pinterest that essentially said, “I asked God to protect me from my enemies… and I started losing friends.” As I read this scripture verse, I thought about this quote and some of the situations in which I have placed myself over the years… groups where gossip and backbiting was the rule of the day… events where there was a lot of controversial and disingenuous conversation… and “friendships” where really all we did was enable each other in some way – wallowing in grief, misery, self-pity, or negativity.
I knew these relationships robbed me of a feeling of peace. In fact, some of them left me feeling downright lousy afterward. It’s no fun to spend what is supposed to be a festive evening with friends… only to come home feeling depressed and unsettled! It took me longer than it should have to figure out that I needed to bite the bullet and distance myself from some of these people and circumstances… or maybe I finally “let go and let God” – and as He protected me from my “enemies” I lost a few “friends” in the bargain!
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not telling you to start ending relationships with friends or family members who don’t always agree with you or occasionally make you feel uncomfortable in some way. God places difficult people and challenging circumstances in our midst for a reason. But if you feel that your associations and participations in certain circles and/or activities is causing you to continually feel unsettled, maybe you need to ask God to show you if this is something you should rethink. If you are feeling uncomfortable, discouraged, or disgusted more often than you feel a sense of peace, perhaps you need to ask God to show you whether your involvement in a particular activity or relationship is right for you.
Sometimes, in order to find God’s peace, we have to lose whatever is blocking it. This doesn’t mean we can be unkind or unloving toward those who drag us down. This is not a license to criticize other people or activities. But we have to know when to say, “This is not right for me. This is not bringing me a sense of peace.” If we listen to God and truly seek His peace in our lives, He will show us when to step aside. We may have to redefine our relationship with others… or we may have to take an extended breather. And there may be a few activities and acquaintances that have to go… permanently!
If we really want God’s peace, we have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to get it. Sometimes that means “dining at home alone” rather than “going out with the crew.” What about you… do you have God’s peace and quiet in your everyday life? Are you ready to do what it takes to get it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label giving up family and friends to follow Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving up family and friends to follow Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 24, 2013
May 24 ~ Luke 21:16-19
Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have a friend who tells the story of his grandfather…a Jew who became a Christian. The grandfather’s family told him that he was dead to them if he made such a decision. My friend’s grandfather chose to follow Jesus anyhow. A church member I know tells of how he and fellow members of his army platoon met in secret while deployed to Afghanistan during the first Gulf War… just so they could hold worship services. In doing so, they literally feared for their lives… as do countless others around the globe who worship in places where Christianity is forbidden. That is something most of us cannot fathom. We cannot begin to consider possible betrayal or death – especially at the hands of a friend, family member or loved one because of our faith. Imagine living in a country where your worship of Jesus Christ might be so daunting that your own parents would turn you in to the authorities for doing so, just to save their own necks!
Few of us can imagine doing this. But maybe you grew up in a family where you were persuaded to “skip church and do something fun” with the family. You might have been the only person in your household who desired to worship and serve Jesus… and the others might have berated you for doing so. Perhaps you have been laughed at and ridiculed by your classmates and friends because of your faith. Maybe you have been labeled as a “goody two-shoes” or a “Jesus freak” – and excluded from certain circles and invitations to more than one event. Maybe you have decided to follow Jesus… and in doing so, you had to give up friends – and even family members – and distance yourself from those who engage in immoral, illegal, and/or sinful activities.
Whatever ridicule, exclusion, physical or emotional abuse or discomfort of any sort you may experience because you love and serve Jesus, know this… He has your back! You will come out on top. As this scripture indicates… “not a hair on your head will perish!” You may be bruised and scraped… wounded emotionally, if not physically… but you will survive. You can handle it, because Jesus is with you. He is your shield and your protector. There is nothing anyone else can say or do to you that can matter more than Jesus. There is a catch… you must be patient. This may not happen overnight. You may very well have to suffer indignation and mistreatment for a while… and it may seem like an eternity. But God will NOT leave you hanging. He will bless you… and use your Discipleship and faithfulness. He will honor those who honor Him with their obedience, steadfastness and commitments.
Last night, I read through my prayer journal for the last year. I noted the many requests I had placed before God… for people to be healed – physically and emotionally… for this one or that to get a job or a restored relationship… for countless children…for some dear souls to be allowed to enter Heaven…and more. I made a list of some of the requests that God answered… and I took notice of how He answered. Most of the time, His answer was at least a little bit different than my request… but it was always perfect. The timing was better… the outcome was impeccable…the response made more sense and had a more positive impact overall.
So why do I doubt? Why do I try to impose my timetable? Why can’t I be patient and trust God in all things? Why do I worry that for one minute, He might allow a hair on my head to perish? Why would we ever fear following Jesus? I know the answer… our own human frailties and the inroads these provide for Satan to get a stronghold. Because we all know that fear comes from the devil… it’s one of his favorite tools!
Today, my prayer is that God would make me more patient and trusting. I am reminded of how faithful He is to care for me… and how I should be more faithful and trusting in my Discipleship. Truly, nothing – and no one – matters more than Jesus. The day we begin to understand this fully is the day we really arrive as Christians. Where does this leave you? Are you willing to put Jesus before everything – and everyone – else? Have you arrived in your Spiritual journey? Are you even on your way?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have a friend who tells the story of his grandfather…a Jew who became a Christian. The grandfather’s family told him that he was dead to them if he made such a decision. My friend’s grandfather chose to follow Jesus anyhow. A church member I know tells of how he and fellow members of his army platoon met in secret while deployed to Afghanistan during the first Gulf War… just so they could hold worship services. In doing so, they literally feared for their lives… as do countless others around the globe who worship in places where Christianity is forbidden. That is something most of us cannot fathom. We cannot begin to consider possible betrayal or death – especially at the hands of a friend, family member or loved one because of our faith. Imagine living in a country where your worship of Jesus Christ might be so daunting that your own parents would turn you in to the authorities for doing so, just to save their own necks!
Few of us can imagine doing this. But maybe you grew up in a family where you were persuaded to “skip church and do something fun” with the family. You might have been the only person in your household who desired to worship and serve Jesus… and the others might have berated you for doing so. Perhaps you have been laughed at and ridiculed by your classmates and friends because of your faith. Maybe you have been labeled as a “goody two-shoes” or a “Jesus freak” – and excluded from certain circles and invitations to more than one event. Maybe you have decided to follow Jesus… and in doing so, you had to give up friends – and even family members – and distance yourself from those who engage in immoral, illegal, and/or sinful activities.
Whatever ridicule, exclusion, physical or emotional abuse or discomfort of any sort you may experience because you love and serve Jesus, know this… He has your back! You will come out on top. As this scripture indicates… “not a hair on your head will perish!” You may be bruised and scraped… wounded emotionally, if not physically… but you will survive. You can handle it, because Jesus is with you. He is your shield and your protector. There is nothing anyone else can say or do to you that can matter more than Jesus. There is a catch… you must be patient. This may not happen overnight. You may very well have to suffer indignation and mistreatment for a while… and it may seem like an eternity. But God will NOT leave you hanging. He will bless you… and use your Discipleship and faithfulness. He will honor those who honor Him with their obedience, steadfastness and commitments.
Last night, I read through my prayer journal for the last year. I noted the many requests I had placed before God… for people to be healed – physically and emotionally… for this one or that to get a job or a restored relationship… for countless children…for some dear souls to be allowed to enter Heaven…and more. I made a list of some of the requests that God answered… and I took notice of how He answered. Most of the time, His answer was at least a little bit different than my request… but it was always perfect. The timing was better… the outcome was impeccable…the response made more sense and had a more positive impact overall.
So why do I doubt? Why do I try to impose my timetable? Why can’t I be patient and trust God in all things? Why do I worry that for one minute, He might allow a hair on my head to perish? Why would we ever fear following Jesus? I know the answer… our own human frailties and the inroads these provide for Satan to get a stronghold. Because we all know that fear comes from the devil… it’s one of his favorite tools!
Today, my prayer is that God would make me more patient and trusting. I am reminded of how faithful He is to care for me… and how I should be more faithful and trusting in my Discipleship. Truly, nothing – and no one – matters more than Jesus. The day we begin to understand this fully is the day we really arrive as Christians. Where does this leave you? Are you willing to put Jesus before everything – and everyone – else? Have you arrived in your Spiritual journey? Are you even on your way?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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