He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Psalm 40:3a

Monday, March 14, 2016

Power Struggle

        
        Struggles come in all shapes and sizes, caring nothing of gender, race, age, nationality, financial status, creed or religion.  It’s just a fact of life. Everyone has some kind of issue to work with regularly. It happens in families, work environments, communities, and churches.  It seems especially apparent in political arenas.  

        Consider the state of our government elections, even as this is being written.  The politicians campaigning for President disagree on almost everything and are vocal and even vicious in their attacks on the opposition!

         These struggles between people, often boils down to wielding power.  People become so consumed with their view, they can see no other and believe their way is the only right way.  Since disagreements ensue, paranoia is planted and cultivated, which then causes accusations and then more issues.  These issues and accusations creates divisions which then creates even more disagreements.  It becomes a vicious circle unless it gets stopped somewhere along the way.  But it’s a decision to be made.  It doesn’t just happen!

         In our daily lives we deal with financial and job issues, marriage, children and teenager situations, aging parents, homelessness, education inadequacies, diet, health problems of all kinds, even issues related to our pets who have become such an important part of our family.

         Jesus was no stranger to struggles.  He dealt with sadness, anger, temptation; even despair before going to the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He knows how we feel.  He also knows the freedom that comes from resting in the Father.  It’s this model we should follow.  When we can come to the Father with an open and pure heart, placing all that besets us at His feet, then we can rest in God’s embrace just as Jesus did.  It is He who restores us and vindicates us from all the ills of this world.  It is He who offers the only real peace that means anything!

         Rest and peace coming in any other form, like substance or alcohol abuse, gaming, pornography, or any other kind of addiction you can imagine, is only temporary and false.  It is a deception that has become part of our society, and sadly more the norm rather than abnormal.  But the truth is, it’s a lie fed by the great deceiver: satan.

         We are all people with a variety of backgrounds, upbringing, ideas, goals and perspectives.  There are going to be different opinions on just about everything.  But we need to take a step back and see the differences without allowing a power struggle to get the upper hand.  Not everyone is right all the time.  There are often more than one or even two options for agreement. During those times, as well as, when there seems to be no other option, we would do better taking the problem to The Lord, asking for His wisdom so we can make good choices or decisions.   

         So I challenge you to consider other people’s opinions this week, when different from your as, “just different” rather than wrong.  Pray about the problem and for a positive outcome.  It is here others will see Christ in your life.
        



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