Not Another Manic Monday, September 23, 2019
Vlog post notes:
Have you ever had one of those days when you’re just “out of sorts?” Don’t talk to me, don’t touch me, I want to be left alone.”
I’ve had a few of those this week, mainly because it’s how I stress when I’m pretending that I’m not stressed. Because I have to have it all together, and nobody, (including David) can know that I’m truly a bundle of spaz on the inside.
That issue and the fact that one of the Carter boys, if not both mentioned being out of sorts in their sermons yesterday. And it really rang my bell. I’ve been out of sorts! I wasn’t shocked that I was, I was shocked that it really convicted me about my attitude. Attitudes are the deal breakers of a good day.
I think I’ll make that a Jesus Chick meme. Because it’s so true. Any day that I’m worried or overwhelmed can cause me to turn people off like a radio dial. Several times this week I’ve been less that talkative to David and the grandbabies, but rather retreating inside my head, or inside the British Baking Show or some other Netflix show, anything to escape the reality of life. Lots of things on my plate, and not always answers to the issues.
Even this morning before David went to work, I got up and did what I never do, I turned on a pod cast of a silly girl that makes me giggle just so I could not deal with life.
And I wondered, how many others need an attitude check this Monday morning so that we can help each other have a successful week of accomplishments.
(my chore chart and grocery list)
These are my saving graces for attempts at being organized. Which is actually a façade. But it does help me stay on task. So I decided that there must be something that I can do to help me stay on task with my attitude.
Hmmm… The Bible?
What a novel idea. And so I went to the word and discovered that it’s in there. Just like every other life issue that matters. It’s in there. Maybe not in the exact example but the concept is there.
Sort is mentioned three times in the New Testament. Which I love because that gives me a three point outline, which is bible college bliss! It will help you to remember (at least I hope) that there are three things working in your life today to make or break your week.
The first is Satan. He does not want you, nor I to have a successful go of it, and I’m here to tell you, I have way to much on my plate to have time for failures. So I want to win this battle first and foremost. My attitude needs to be in check.
Beware of the Baser Sort
Luke the writer of Acts tell the story in Acts 17:5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
This was a literal attack on the family of Jason because the Jews were jealous of what was happening with the Ministry. Jason was a servant of Christ and Satan hates people who serve God. While we are not likely to be drug out into the street and beaten for our service to the Lord, what will likely happen is Satan and his minions will set out to assault our lives in a less than obvious way, by attacking our emotions. He will bring to mind notions and ideas that will discourage us and create moments of fear, depression and anxiety.
Those attitudes will work against our success and begin to create chaos in our lives.
It happened last week with my grandson Luke. I picked him up from school and he got into the car with some banter about less than acceptable behavior at school and it set me into a state of frustration. So, we pull into the driveway, which is a one minute drive, and I’m already frustrated and I come into the house and jump on to him for something trivial and he said to me. “Gee, Noni, what’s up with you?”
I was already in the mood. So, I huffed and retreated to my room leaving Luke to watch stupid shows that frustrate my mind even more. The rest of the evening that attitude filled the air.
I look back now and realize that it was no doubt a demonic power that wanted to mess with my head and Luke’s evening and I’m so frustrated that I fell for Satan’s trick.
While the Jews used actual people, which Satan does too at times, he’ll also use whatever is handy, and sometimes that’s us. If he can mess with our mind, he has half of the battle won. He’ll frustrate us, which will frustrate our families, friends or co-workers and suddenly nothing is working in harmony.
So, we have to become aware that this demonic power is a real thing and we need to speak the word of God over it.
Scriptures like Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
That’s just one, and there are many others that you can do a word search on a bible app with your specific issue and allow God to defend you through His word.
I chose one about peace because for me, and likely many others, peace of mind is a struggle, especially when Satan attacks.
Become the Bolder Sort
Romans 15:15 ~ Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
Paul spoke to them of his grace, which is the same grace that each on of us who are saved have received.
He could speak boldly because he’d lived through some pretty rough times. He hadn’t always been perfect and he’s spoke often about how that humbled him that God used him the way he did, even though he had been a killer (literal killer) of Christians.
I hope you haven’t killed anyone, but we’ve all failed. And those failures can makes us not have the courage to speak out because we believe Satan when he tells us we’re not worthy. But we are worthy! And that’s what Paul realized. That through the salvation of Jesus Christ and the ultimate price He paid on the cross we can be bold and brave in the face of our adversary because Christ will give us that strength. But we must believe it. You cannot be a bold faker. Satan has your number and he’ll call it up right in the middle of your stand.
My last point is from 1 Corinthians 3:13
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
Be Aware of Your Sort
What we all want is to have lives, that when they are tried by fire at the end of this life, and the beginning of eternity, will make it through the fire. Those works have to be genuine. And by genuine, I don’t mean perfect!
That is for certain a word that Satan will use to mess with your head. What we do seldom seems good enough.
Weigh your day by the standards of Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those are worthy thoughts to have. Not negative, not derogatory toward self or others, but only positive things. Because these are the things that when we present them to the Lord, it’s going to make the test of fire.
So… two verses for you to write down or print out, and I’ll put them in the comments below.
Philippians 4:7-8
It’s no accident that they were together.
