Sometimes understanding what is going on around us is beyond us, isn't it?  And when we can't understand what's going on we get confused and we find ourselves caught in fear, frustration, distress and even despair.   And we end up wandering around the same mountains like the Israelites did in the wilderness - moaning and groaning while waiting for God's next big event.  That's not a pleasant way to live, is it?

Today is the first day of the new month - but what is different in my life besides the date on the calendar?  Do I have new understanding?  New goals?  New plans?  A new mountain?  A new big event?  Nope.  But I have new prayers.

I am not praying for things to be different or for a new path that quits circling the same mountain or for the next big event.  Today I am praying to have eyes to see Father's ways and to do the things I have been commanded to do with confidence and trust.  I am praying to let Christ live in me and show me how He lives so I can live there, too.  I am praying to know how to live.

And I already have answers to my prayers - I had them before I asked.  Father reminded me that He has already given me instructions on how to live and placed Spirit in me to bear out the fruit of life.  He says:

Love without expectation.  Matthew 5: 43-47 "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that."  (The Message)  So today when I bump up against people that aren't particularly lovely or loving, I will let the character of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit be what flows out from me instead of responding and reacting with the flesh of Amy.  Instead of getting my feelings hurt when someone in my life says something rude to me or does something that neglects my rights as a human being I will pray for them to be blessed and for them to be successful and for them to be overwhelmed by the love of God.  And from those prayers love and kindness and gentleness of Spirit will respond with the grace of Jesus Christ. 

Forgive without counting.  Psalm 32:1 Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be— you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean.  2 Count yourself lucky— God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him.  Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"   22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."   (The Message) So when those unlovely and unloving people do those things against me I will make a conscious choice to forgive them and not only that, I will keep forgiving even if they keep doing those things.  And not only that, I will not hold those things against them and keep remembering them.  I will ask Father to help me remove the board from my eye that keeps replaying the video of the offense as I choose to forgive - and not count. 

Pray without ceasing.  I Thessalonians 5:17  Pray continuously.  Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (NIV) Today I will stay in constant communication with Him, talking to Him about what is going on my mind, heart, and world, asking for His wisdom, direction, and character to be what guides me, thanking and praising every moment.  And if the conversation no one else hears is with Him, with that focus, then the conversation from my mouth will reflect it and the character of Christ's truth and grace will flow out from me.

Surrender without hesitation.  Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. I John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  (NIV)  Just as Christ surrendered His life for me, I will surrender mine for Him and for others as I live in humility, knowing that my surrender to Him will lead to submission with respect for others.  In every situation today, I will ask that He show me His own surrender so that I can walk in it.  I will let someone over in front of me on the highway.  I will not push my way in line at the store.  I will defer with grace to the needs and desires of others just as I will defer to Him - with joy and peace - trusting that as I defer He will care for me.

Those are just a few of the instructions He has given but I have a feeling that as I ask Spirit to remind me of these basic things, and live them in and through me, that my confidence and trust will grow.  And I will live today as Christ and not as Amy, the clueless circler of mountains...

Living,
Amy