Category: Wisdom

For Peace of Mind

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

For peace of mind, resign as General Manager of the universe.

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It is easy to think what I would do in any given situation. I read the news, I see personal posts on social media, I hear issues being discussed and I can process how I believe a situation should be handled. I make assumptions based on snippets of information shared on the internet when I don’t know all the facts. Information is everywhere at all times. And there are social media platforms where anyone can share their opinions any minute of the day. The news, the opinions, the thoughts of the masses are a lot to manage. I believe all that is available doesn’t have to be read. It can be detrimental to mental health and even spiritual growth having to manage a weight that wasn’t meant for me to bear. Being informed is one thing. Obsessing and worrying over situations I cannot control is another. I find myself having emotional reactions to news – anger, frustration, disbelief. There is even joyful news – news which bring relief and hope. But how much peace do I give up at home because I feel the weight of world events?


“For peace of mind, resign as General Manager of the universe”. When I came across that quote, it was a reminder I needed to see. It helps me take a step back when I feel overwhelmed by information and opinions.

For peace of mind, I resign from feeling the need to be “in the know”.

For peace of mind, I resign from forming opinions based on bits and pieces of news.

For peace of mind, I resign from the fierceness of emotions that take a physical and spiritual toll on me.

For peace of mind, I resign to the knowledge and understanding that He is fulfilling His will on the earth and all that is in it.

Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

I. Chronicles 29:11

The Past is the Past

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

The past is not a package one can lay away.

Emily Dickinson

“If only I knew then what I know now”. If only I could go back in time and redo this or that. Time is a good teacher, however, and regret can be a bully. The past should not be put on lay away in the mind and heart to pick up at a later date. I can view myself a failure over things I did wrong or I can see through to God telling the story of His faithfulness, forgiveness and fulfillment.

Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

The Best Light

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

Treat your friends as you do your pictures and place them in the best light.

Jennie J. Churchill

Looking for the best in those around us -whether in the home, out in town, or on social media – can turn someone’s day around. We never know what others are dealing with behind closed doors. The family member, the co-worker, the neighbor, the waitress, the cashier, the teacher, the pastor – they have needs and strengths, too. Compliment, love, be generous in encouragement.

Romans 15:5-6, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Stable and Satisfied

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Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.

Elisabeth Elliot

In my last blog entry, The Journey to Less Stuff, I shared about working to live with less. I have been reading a lot of blog posts and articles about simple living and about living satisfied with simple pleasures. Sometimes a lack of contentment in God’s provisions stems from a lack of confidence. I tend to compare my ‘stuff’, status in life, and self to others. What holds me back from fully trusting is not what I have, but what I think I don’t have. I believe, though, that when I am a good steward with what I am graced with and I live well with His graces, contentment follows. And when “Thy will be done” becomes the heart’s desire, it is then that my mind is stable and satisfied with God in the lead.

I may not understand where God has me right now. I may not know why God created me a certain way. But when I take my eyes off Him and look on the lives of others or to self for answers, I lack wisdom.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

James 1:5-7

God gives wisdom generously and without scolding when I ask for it in full faith. But when I go back and forth between trusting and uncertainty, He knows that I am like a sea’s wave moved by winds of doubt. And God does not reward a double minded mindset.

Faith in God still has questions. Lots of them. But stability and satisfaction comes from looking to the right Source for the answers and being wise enough to know that God has His own timing in everything to reveal a matter- even if it means something to know only when I get to Heaven. True faith is confident to take those questions to the throne of Grace and leave them there.

Rise Up Again

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I do not have it all together. Just because I write about self-discipline, compassion, love, faith, grace, I am, by no means, an expert on anything. I am far from it and mess up on a daily basis. In fact, my son gently said to me, “You were a little ‘sharp’ this morning.” And this was on Mother’s Day this year. ((sigh))) I have not forgotten his words or how gentle he was in telling me. I could accuse the people who try to talk to me before coffee (even after they have been warned). My son is ready for a full blown conversation if you even look him in the eye in the morning. I.am.not. My prayer in the morning should not be, “Give me coffee”, but rather, “Give me Jesus”.  I could excuse my behavior because I am not a morning person and everyone in the house should know this. I could blame my failure to ‘get it right’ on anyone and anything but myself. And I can scold myself ’til kingdom come for my too sharp tongue, but that is not what grace is about. God does not want us living constantly berating ourselves for our imperfections. We need to ask forgiveness, forgive ourselves, and move on. Every day there is new grace, new compassion, and new mercies. And I can say, “Amen” to that all day long, but I need to live it. Did you mess up this week already? Did you fail to ‘get it right’ today? That’s OK… me too. But remember this: “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is his faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. -Proverbs 24:16

365 new days. 365 new chances. I will fail to ‘get it right’ again, but how will I respond? I am a sinner saved by grace and when the Spirit tells me Himself of through another person that I have hurt someone, I can choose to stay frustrated, or rise up with dignity to a new morning, to new graces, to God’s ever present faithfulness.

When Wisdom Is Nearer

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Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar. -W. Wordsworth

Oh how hard it is to not let pride get in the way. To choose God’s righteousness over self-righteousness is a challenge some days because my flesh wants to have its own way. To let His will be done instead of forcing my ways and hoping I did the right thing goes against the Spirit who only wants what is best.

Concepts used around the word “wisdom” are usually; righteousness, understanding, integrity, knowledge, upright, just, peace, safety, honor, diligence, life. And so much more.

Wisdom is nearer when I bend to His will.

Wisdom is nearer when I listen for the still small voice which says, “This way”.

Wisdom is nearer when I wait for God’s direction, not rushing results.

Wisdom is nearer when I choose to live with integrity, knowledge, peace, safety, honor,…life.

Wisdom is nearer when I find myself kneeling before God first before expecting to soar.

Proverbs 11:6, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”

The Work of Spiritual Discernment

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Just like salvation through Christ cannot be passed down through another person, so it is with wisdom. It is a personal decision to seek Christ. It is a personal choice to seek knowledge and understanding. A solid spiritual life is not ‘just going to happen’ without any effort on the part of the believer.

Proverbs 2:3-5, “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

I want to be a seeker of things that God cares for me to know about. I want to have the desire to search carefully and thoroughly for understanding as I would if I were mining for silver. Through crying out to God and digging through His word, spiritual discernment, understanding the heart of God, and knowledge of His faithfulness comes.

 

Embrace the Grace

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I will choose to listen to the wise who build and turn away from the critics who break.

I will choose to focus on faith in God and separate from those centered on faults and flaws.

I will choose to do the job God gave me and be untroubled about “keeping up” with anyone else.

I will choose to evaluate my worthiness by using God’s Word as my foundation and bypass the weighing measures of man.

I will choose to let go of the misconceptions, the broken trust, the self-imposed and others-imposed boundaries to embrace the grace. “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1b

Proverbs 3:31, “Envy not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.”

Choose wisely.

The Reward You Get

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Wednesday. Hump Day. The middle of the week. Many are just trying to make it ’til the weekend. Surviving, not thriving. I get it. But I do not want to be counting my days like that and with the new year fast approaching, I would like to resolve to do more than ‘survive’ in 2018. On my former blog, I had started a section “Midweek Minutes” posted on Wednesdays on the topic of wisdom, and I hope to post here as I am able.  One of the studies I had done was about listening. Not.an.easy.topic. Do I listen or talk more? Do I have an opinion formulated before the other person is done talking? Do I often interrupt? No comment. I will admit I need to work on a few areas. This week’s entry came from a quote about ‘listening skills’.

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.” -Doug Larson

I looked up a few synonyms for ‘listen’:
→ Observe,
→ Take notice
→ Consider
→ Be on guard
→ Focus
→ Wait

There is more involved than just hearing when it comes to listening. It takes action, effort, discipline even…which sounds like work, doesn’t it?

“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” Proverbs 19:20-21

This week’s concept is not about just listening to others in conversation (family, friends,  co-workers), but about hearing counsel and receiving (accepting, acknowledging, deferring to) instruction. When I am given advice, how do I respond? Defensively? Most likely. There is no expiration date on this verse or an age limit. Wisdom is a journey, it seems, and a concept I wonder if I will ever grasp. When I think of a lifetime of listening, hearing counsel, receiving instruction, it can feel a bit overwhelming. “Practice makes progress”, I have been told.  Wisdom is the reward when I remember to practice observing. Wisdom is the reward when I develop consideration. And wisdom comes when I am faithful to focus and wait on God to show me His direction.