Don't be Offended

I've said it often, and I will until I die: I am a slow-learner.

The Lord has tried to teach me things that just kind of slide right off my "teflon-coated-brain". Over and over again. But thankfully, He desires so much for me to reflect His Son that there is no, "Oh well. Guess that lesson will just have to be skipped." He keeps teaching until it finally begins to sink in.

And, boy, am I glad!

I am grateful to finally be learning this principle. Glad it is finally taking root in my sin-sick-soul. Thankful for His Persistence. Because this lesson is important. And I'm wishing I had had ears to hear it years ago.

Ready?

I can choose to refuse to be offended.

I spent years not knowing that.

I spent years allowing my pride to grow expectations in my heart about how I should be treated, how others should behave.  And when I wasn't or they didn't, I was offended. 

It actually sounds comical now: I was offended.

As if I had ANY right!!

Having expectations about "How Things Should Be" set me up for so much self-inflicted pain, so many missed opportunities to Love, more and more focus on self. 

But then the light bulb came on!

It does not matter what anyone does or doesn't do if ALL of my expectations are lying at His Feet!

"FREEDOM!!!"

When I walk in true humility, caring not at all about my reputation but only about His, then I can't be offended. Not really. 

I can choose to let things simply roll off my back, smiling sweetly, able to return Love in place of reciprocated rudeness. I can be around people who "push my buttons" without fear, because I no longer HAVE "buttons". I can walk in Peace and Joy into the midst of the "lion's den", in places that previously would have caused me much anticipatory angst and afterward, residual regret.

HE IS SUFFICIENT!

Sufficient, so that I do not ever have to disgrace His Good Name by responding in anything but Love. 

Newly learned lessons of the heart require intentionality of me. Before His Nature becomes my nature, I must prepare, pray, and practice.  

Preparing: I must understand and anticipate the situations where I am most likely to fall back into old ways. Are there certain people, circumstances, pressures that tempt me to "react"? 

Pray: Preparation in prayer helps me choose Grace. Grace is the Power and the Desire to do His Will. When I know I will be walking into a hard situation, I need to spend time praying to have the Mind of Christ.

Practice: Knowing what has caused me to stumble in the past helps me to plan responses ahead of time. If I have already thought through typical scenarios and asked the Lord for Wisdom, He will help me "pre-program" my thoughts and words so that I am not caught off guard.

I will still stumble, but as I learn more dependence on Him those tumbles are fewer and farther between.

Isaiah 40:31
. . . but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.