Connecting the Dots...
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 3:41PM 
Hi Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. Share an insight or story, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend.
NEW RELEASE!!!
I am very excited to announce the release of my newest book, "Embracing Your Freedom: A Personal Experience in God's Heart for Justice."
Make my day and pick up a copy today! I believe the message of this book is an important word for women in our day. Follow the Amazon link below to get a look at my book:
Now on to my topic...
We all go through seasons in life where we feel especially vulnerable and our insecurities feel close to the surface. During such times it's easy to misread people and situations.
A trusted friend suddenly seems disloyal and distant. A co-worker pulls back and seems to be spending time with someone who doesn't like you. You walk into church and nobody seems interested in talking to you. Your pastor walks right by without noticing you. You no longer feel like you have your boss's favor.
When one or more of these scenarios happen in a short amount of time, it's easy to connect the dots, draw certain conclusions, and then react accordingly. Just recently I talked with someone who had a number of 'dots' out there. He had some legitimate reason for concern, but deep in his soul, he sensed that God was telling him to believe the best about others, not to jump to conclusions, and to continue on with doing the right thing.
His response was exactly right and at the end of the day, the little mishaps fizzled to nothing. Imagine if he would have taken the bait, gotten big and reactionary with his friends and co-workers, and stepped out of the authority and assurance that he had in Christ Jesus.
We may have some real 'dots' out there, just begging to be connected, but that doesn't mean that the picture actually exists or is an accurate one. We need the mind of Christ not to draw wrong conclusions.
From now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view (2 Corinthians 5:16).
I cringe when I think of how many times I assumed people had bad motives when they didn't, or I assumed they we're mad when they weren't. Thankfully, many of those times, I kept my feelings to myself and brought them before God that I might find my footing once again. Interestingly enough though, I learned that in many of those situations, those people we're enduring their own struggles and would have greatly benefited from an extra dose of grace and love (which comes out of fullness; reactions, on the other hand, come out of emptiness).
We all tend to misread people and situations when something in them resembles a past painful experience for us. We must take responsibility for our actions and reactions, and we must pursue deep inner healing so that our past no longer has the power to diminish our current perspective and relationships. Remember too, the enemy overplays his hand when it comes to our unhealed areas. He prowls around, just looking for an opportunity to magnify a problem or skew a perspective. His goal is to get our eyes off of God and onto our fears and hang ups. He wants our past to keep speaking to us. He wants our wounds to perpetuate themselves. And he wants us stuck in the prison of an earthbound perspective.
You've probably heard me say this before, or read it in one of my books, but it bears repeating. If the devil can get us to live in reaction to our circumstances rather than in response to God, well, then, he has succeeded at stealing our joy and robbing us of the abundant life to which our souls are heir.
Determine to believe the best in others this week. Even if their motives are off, you stay in the shelter of the Most High God and declare, My salvation and honor depend on God alone. HE is my mighty rock and refuge (Psalm 62:7). Determine too, to believe the best about God. He has your best interest at heart every single day. Even if your circumstances scream something different, refuse to draw a conclusion that disregards God's promises to you.
For the Believer, the only conclusion that matters is the one God has come to regarding us. We are worth everything to Him. We are loved, called, equipped, and chosen. We have everything we need and then some.
Have a blessed week~
PS ~ I took the picture above with my phone from my deck. Look closely at it; you'll see a cross in the clouds. It was HUGE!
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Reader Comments (14)
~Andrea Canniff
So true, so true! I pray God helps me keep Him at the forefront of my mind~God bless your week Susie!Kathy
We were hosting some Missionaries in the home this person and I shared. My room had a bathroom connected to it and I was in the shower. I heard some noise, so I quickly ran to my bedroom door and slammed it shut for fear that the missionaries were going to see too much of me!
Later that day my friend was very short with me, and was shutting me down.
Thank you Holy Spirit. He told me that this person was coming to talk to me and that I slammed the door as they came to talk about something on their heart.
Proof that you should not think the worst of a person, but always beleive the best. When they do mean the worst, then you need to let God be the judge and not you. Who needs the extra burdens these days?
Hope this encourages you in the absolute truth that was on the blog today.
OH, that is SO ME right now. I'm so tired and emotional. (New baby, so what else can I expect.) Very little is being asked of me this minute and I like it very much. I think I would fall to pieces if I had to be (or appear) strong or confident right now.
I keep asking my husband, "Are you mad at me?" I think he's tired of saying no; last time he said something like "Yes, desperately," just to mix things up a little. ;-)
(Hey, I clicked on the picture to make it bigger and oh, my! It must have blown you away to see that in the sky above you!)
Helen
Thanks for your post! I wish you could include a picture of your new baby with your post. She's a dolly! Bless you~
Thanks for your post. I think we all need the regular reminders to live in response to God rather than in reaction to our circumstances. We go to that earthbound place so easily, wouldn't you say? Blessings to you!
Thanks for your post! Isn't that the greatest challenge (and privilege for us as Believers)? To regard others and ourselves from an eternal perspective is a worthy pursuit, indeed! Blessings to you~
Well put! Thanks for sharing. And you are right, it's such a lighter burden to let God be our defender, judge, and protector. May we be earnest to believe the best in others. Bless you.
I LOVED your post. Bless your heart! And your husband's comment made me laugh out loud. Sounds like something my husband would say. May you give yourself permission to rest, recover, and to get to know the newest member of your family. You are a Kingdom woman and God knows that. Enjoy this season. Bless you~
You hit the nail on the head: "When I'm secure in my identity as a daughter of the King, there's no need to second guess others' opinions and intentions." Well put! God bless you!
Thanks for your post. I know it can be difficult to 'wait' for those you love to run hard after Jesus. The amazing thing is, God loves them right where they live. And though He loves is when we earnestly pursue Him, He doesn't want us to lose our joy over the pace of another's walk of faith. The enemy would love to steal, kill and destroy our joy by keeping our focus on those we love. The best thing we can do for them (as I'm sure you know) is earnestly pursue Jesus in our personal lives (because we become more like Him in the process), earnestly pray for those we love (because that keeps heaven busy on their behalf), and to love those we love (because that reminds them what true love looks like). Hope this helps! Bless you~