When we are vexed and distraught

Psalms 18:6 (AMP) In my distress [when I seemed surrounded] I called upon the Lord and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry for help came before Him, into His very ears.

Psalms 120:1 (AMP) In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He answered me.

When we have problems, who do we need to run to? I was having a problem in my mind yesterday. It started with a bad thought towards someone from something they shared on social media. I started to analyze it and dissect it. Why? Secretly I was hurt with this individual. It was nothing they had done to me personally either. I was judging their fruit against the post and how to me it seemed they were trying to find spiritual speak to defend their reasoning (half Word is not Truth). This vexed me because I was not thinking right and I knew it.

What did I do? I went to God in prayer about it. I did not ask Him to change them, I asked Him to change me. Help me to have a pure heart, Lord. Why? I want to be effective in His Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (AMP) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.

I do not want to be a distraction in the Kingdom. Therefore, I need to cast down the thoughts that have a distraction, or try to vex me, to truly love the way He wants me to love. Love is not a feeling, it is the ability to be selfless. This is not the same of thinking less of myself. When I take up imaginations that are not believing the best for others, then I am not loving well. I am actually starting to live for self.

1 John 5:1-5 (AMP) Everyone who believes [with a deep, abiding trust in the fact] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is born of God [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], and everyone who loves the Father also loves the child born of Him. By this we know [without any doubt] that we love the children of God: [expressing that love] when we love God and obey His commandments. For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts. And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey]. For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.

How do I know that I am victorious in this love thing? I keep surrendering it to Jesus. I am making it a habit to keep His commandments and to remain focused on His precepts. His commandments and precepts are not difficult to obey when I keep my eyes on Him. Did I not just battle though? Yes I did. I chose to surrender. I chose to repent. I chose to change my focus to love Him first. I chose to pray blessings and wisdom over the individual. I chose forgiveness, so I can lead in love. I do not have to feel like loving to choose to love. Love is self sacrifice.

Amanda chooses to endure with patience and serenity, Amanda chooses to be kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; Amanda chooses not to brag and is not proud or arrogant. Amanda chooses not to be rude; chooses not to be self-seeking, chooses not to be provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; Amanda chooses not to take into account a wrong endured. Amanda chooses not to rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Amanda chooses to bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Amanda chooses to submit to the love that never fails, that is in Christ Jesus (taken and adapted from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Take the Word and apply it to your life as well. When we surrender our will to His then it will become less burdensome. I enjoy His commandments, because with them I am free from the condemnation that my thoughts being so weak brings. When I am distressed I should run to Him, not away. He is where my help comes from, especially in my love walk. What do you think His commandment was?

John 13:34 (AMP) I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.

Mark 12:30-31 (AMP) and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Lord, we honor You today with our praise and thanksgiving. We are thankful that we can run to You in times of distress, even when it is self inflicted. Thank You for sending Your Son to live a life without sin, to die on the cross and rise victoriously from the grave. We know that He is interceding for us at Your right hand. We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can recognize when our thoughts do not line up with the Truth of Your Word. Thank You for the Word of Knowledge that we receive when we spend time with the Holy Spirit. We repent for not coming to You sooner. You care for us, even when our thoughts become distressing. We thank You for being strong when we are weak. We choose to surrender our thoughts and our hearts to You today. We choose forgiveness for others and ourselves today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose faith today. In Jesus Name, Amen.