Brains.....They're Actually Useful!

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26-27

Remember Paul and Barnabas?  They spent years traveling together taking the Gospel message of Christ to places who had never heard such news before.  Barnabas was the one who actually got Paul and the Disciples in the same place to talk, because Paul, after all, had been Saul and had been going about the countryside terrorizing and punishing Christians.  And after years on the road together, Paul and Barnabas had a rather strong disagreement (Acts 15:39).

Paul was like a snapping turtle in the regard that once he set his mind to something, nothing was going to stop him.  He was, how can I say this politely, STUBBORN and hard-headed.  Which might explain why God chose to blind Saul in order to get his attention and turn him into Paul.

Have you ever been so angry with someone that you couldn't think of anything else?  Couldn't enjoy any activities?  Turned your whole mood to that of a rabid badger in a bad mood without coffee?  So angry that you couldn't sleep which made things worse the next morning because you were still ticked off AND now you're extra irritated because you're tired.  I have.  And there was not enough coffee in the world to make it any better.

Notice that Paul reminds us to not let our anger control us.  Anger, in and of itself, is not wrong.  BUT when we choose to hang on to the anger....that is when we get into trouble.  

Try this: next time you get angry, pick up a rock and squeeze it as hard as you can.  Eventually, you will get tired of squeezing and let it go.  

We can do the same thing with our anger.  Squeeze it....look at it from every perspective.....and then ask yourself, "Is my getting angry REALLY going to resolve this issue?"  You see, anger is a reflexive reaction and is an easier response.  A proactive action would be to see a situation, accept that we don't agree with it, and make a plan to find a peaceful resolution, which makes it unpopular because we have to actually think.

Remember, God gave us brains to actually use for something other than a way to keep our ears apart!  

Look Up!

Look up into the heavens.
    Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
    calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
    not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
    O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.

~Isaiah 40:26-31 

 

As a child, I remember laying on my back in the driveway looking at the stars.  Looking up at the vastness above me, I felt more than a little insignificant.  I remember thinking that with all God has to keep up with, how could He possibly have any idea what I struggled with or that I even exist.  I mean, let's face it, ALL those stars and planets moving in perfect synchronicity?  It made my head hurt just trying to imagine it, so I had NO idea how God could do it.  

 

Later in life, when I was in the Army, our Chaplain came to perform our service.  It was a Sunday night and the stars were already out.  He chose today's passage.  He told us (but it sounded like he was talking directly to me) that God is the God of ALL creation.  He reminded us that God calls each star by name, but more than that, God has called each of US by name! AND has carved OUR names into His right hand.  AND sent His Son to die for US.  And because of all of that, not only are we important to God as His children, but God infuses us and fills us with what we need for the situation we are in.  I felt foolish for asking, partly because I didn't want to feel stupid, but mainly because I didn't want anyone else to think I was a complete imbecile, but I asked the Chaplain how was this possible?  If God gives us what we need for the situation we are in, why do I get angry and upset, why do I feel frustrated and helpless, why am I resentful?  

 

You see, I wasn't the intellectual behemoth I am today (and there are those who are laughing because they know me).  That Chaplain told me something I hope never to forget. He said, "Keep the conversation going.  You know the people who love you because you talk to them and listen to them.  You deal with them differently than those you don't know very well.  When we keep the conversation with God ongoing, we learn to hear His voice.  We learn to listen to His guidance.  We learn just how much He loves us!  If we aren't talking with God, we how can we know anything about Him?  We think God is some old bearded guy who sits around in the clouds ready to smite us, but that isn't true. The more we talk with God, the more we understand that we can rely on Him for EVERYTHING!"

 

Chaplain Eargle was absolutely right.  It was that very night that I began to seriously have a conversation with God.  Yes, it was awkward at first.  Yes, it was a lot of me doing the talking.  No, I didn't see a cloud of smoke before me and a thunderous voice come from within it.  I slowly began to learn to "pray without ceasing." And guess what?  I have learned that God has already put the answer in place for whatever situation I find myself before He ever spoke the Universe into creation.  I am still learning to listen to Him (I am more than a little stubborn).  I still fail miserably, but God has already dealt with that before the Universe was spoken into creation as well.  Nothing surprises Him.  Nothing startles Him.  And best of all, there is NOTHING that can defeat Him!

 

When God gives us a mission, He has already planned every detail and every contingency and through us His mission will not fail! EVER!