Are any of you opinionated? I had a dream that I had shared my opinion with a friend and it absolutely stunned the sensitive friend so much she wouldn’t continue with the story she was telling me. I apologized before I woke up.
Even though it was a dream it made me search my heart.
Growing up, I was so quiet and shy. Outside of my family, I never stood up for myself. I remember a girl in 3rd grade named Shannon Sutton. She was so mean to me and bullied me around. Then I was on a school bus with mean kids. I remember walking on egg shells around them. A childhood full of fear and uncertainty.
Sometime around 18-20 years of age I changed. That was during the period of time when I was fighting for my sanity. I guess boldness was birthed during that season, but boldness isn’t always good if it isn’t tempered by God’s Spirit.
I have had the theme of LOVE running through my mind all week, “They will know we are Christians by our love …” (I shared the lyrics to that song HERE). God is wooing me and dealing with my heart and I have really been struggling. Just like I posted earlier in the week, I feel like my heart needs a good dipping in the Father’s Love. The strange thing is, I can’t even put what I’m experiencing into words.
The dream kind of tied into the lessons I’m learning this week.
1. It would be loving to keep my mouth shut and not always share my thoughts and opinions.
2. What does it matter if someone walks on me? Vengeance belongs to the Lord.
3. Be bold in the Lord!
I keep hearing the word, “Despising” in my spirit. This is getting to a root my friends. A root I didn’t even know was there. It is probably at the root of the weight issues over the years.
I haven’t even called friends to pray for me this week. I’m just working through it all and allowing God to show me what I need to see. I want every hidden thing exposed by God’s Light. I don’t want ANYTHING IN ME that doesn’t bring Him glory. And trust me — there is still plenty there.
And they’ll know that we are Christians by our love, by our love … And they’ll know that we are Christians by our love ….
Mark 12:31
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
WOW! Beth!
This was exactly what I needed to read….I have been struggling with two things you spoke of; anger in my heart and my constant need to pull my foot out of my mouth.
*sigh*
For the latter, I pray for a "what would Jesus do/say" filter to be put in place, HA!
And for the anger…..I have been praying for God to take it from me. I have this issue with one person and I am wrestling with that negative dark emotion that is harboring within.
Thanks for your honesty…..
I definitely have opinions and need to keep my mouth shut more…and let my actions speak positively.
Hugs,
andrea
my word for this year for me is Silence. I am not doing so well with it. I need to choose to keep my mouth shut and so often I let my anger or feelings just out…when I should just keep quiet. I also want to be silent before God…let Him speak to me instead of me always asking for things. Two fold word for me this year…again…it is almost half over and I am still not getting it at all. Grrrr.
Hugs,
Mimi
This said it all:
"I haven't even called friends to pray for me this week. I'm just working through it all and allowing God to show me what I need to see. I want every hidden thing exposed by God's Light. I don't want ANYTHING IN ME that doesn't bring Him glory. And trust me — there is still plenty there."
Blessings and peace Beth!
Awesome message and actually what I needed to hear today! Thanks for sharing.
I completely understand the part of God doing something in you that you can't even put into words. Actually I think those are the most powerful accomplishments of His grace. You can just feel Him stirring within your spirit and healing and empowering His nature to be able to come forth! I believe that these times are the result of a heart that is crying, "I want every hidden thing exposed by God's Light. I don't want ANYTHING IN ME that doesn't bring Him glory" The cry for Truth will bring about His great purpose for our lives here on this earth. Great post Beth!!
Awesome message sis, you always have my prayers.
I think we all need to search our "insides" and see what needs to be purged. By Him…God bless you sis and may you have a wonderful week!
Oh, Beth! I can really relate to this post! I'm AWFUL, awful, awful about needing to have the last word. I've gotten better over the past year or so but still have a long, long way to go!
This post really spoke to my heart today!
Lou
I am definitely opinionated! A little too much. The good Lord above is teaching me to keep my mouth shut at times. It's a lesson that is very difficult to learn sometimes. Especially when you see things going on around you that you don't agree with. Anger seems to creep up as well! Thanks for sharing this! Sometimes it's nice to realize that you aren't alone in your struggles.
I have noticed that I have been able to take the lovedare challenge of resolving to say nothing into other relationships. I know that this ability has been given to me by God because I fight with my flesh to keep my mouth shut and it is working.
I went from being a very quiet person who hardly said anything, to one who made sure she was going to stand up for herself. However, especially over the last couple months the Holy Spirit has been showing me that I need to use wisdom in my responses.
Vickie
thanks for the wonderful sharpening girl in the last two posts I've spent here. It's ironic in one way that you are there, and I'm 'here' SO many miles apart but seems like our Father God is doing some amazing work in us on some issues that you and I, EVEN though so many miles apart, are dealing with exactly at the same time. ((hugs))