Stand Firm part 1
Life comes at you fast. It really does. And when you don't have anything to hold onto it can really throw you for a loop. What I'm trying to say is, "Be on guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT). And to me, this is different than, "You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything." This is more like "If you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it." Because it's easy to let life pile up on you. It's hard to keep your head above water, sometimes. It's only when you are planted on the Rock that is Jesus--that is love--that you can really stand firm. You have to be on solid ground. And that comes from standing firm... in the faith. That comes from being strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He knows what we need better than we do. He knows what we need before we do. He knows what we need... and has already provided it for us. So we don't need to worry. We don't need to wreck ourselves, or let life wreck us. We can be courageous. We can face the day no matter what. No matter what we have to go through, we can know--for certain--that we will get through it. God is love and He loves you. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. That's the ultimate truth of the universe. That's the Rock that we stand on. That's what we put our faith in. Jesus said, "Have faith in God." And God is love. So we are to have faith in love. We are to believe that the most important thing... is love. That's how we build connections with each other. That's how we let go and let God. That's how we experience this life that Jesus came so that we might have. We let God love us and we love Him back by loving each other. We make sure that we know--beyond every shadow of a doubt--that we are loved. We will be ok because at the end of the day... God is love and He loves you. Stand firm on THAT truth. Stand and be courageous. Stand and be strong. Fill yourself up to overflowing with the love that God has filled you with and let it come out. Naturally. With every breath you take and every move you make. Let it be what it's going to be and be ok with it. You are not in control of everything and everybody. You are not in charge of what people say or do. All you can control is yourself. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It's important. Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD. There are other considerations besides just what you want. When I said earlier that God knows what you NEED, that "need" word is important. Being able to tell the difference between what you want and you need is important. Needs trump wants. I always say, "If you don't know how to love someone, see a need and meet it." That, to me, is the most basic and simple way to do it. That, to me, is what love is all about. People have different needs. And you can't be expected to meet all of them. So just do what you can do. Live out of your abundance. Let things be what they are, and be ok with it. Unless you absolutely can't. Change the things you cannot accept and accept the things you cannot change. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. "Is this worth getting upset about?" Will this matter in a year, or a month, or a week? Is there anything I can do about this? And once you answer those questions--act accordingly. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Be who you are. Compromise is good, but don't compromise who you are. Stand fast. Stand firm. Stand on the Rock, and love God (by loving people) with the love that you have been loved with!