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Sufficient Grace
by Shelly Weiss
Practically every morning during my Quiet Time, Janet Jackson shows up. Let me explain. With praise music playing and scripture coming off the pages, words of inspiration flood me so heavily I am afraid I won’t get them on paper before I lose the ‘connection’. Something will distract me, like my need for another cup of coffee or my cat meowing and without fail, I hear the lyrics at the end of Jackson’s Control, Don’t Make Me Lose It! It’s been this way for years.
I’ve heard people describe ‘Default Songs’ as what plays in their head when they let their mind wander. (My Default Song is Big House- Come, and go with me to my Father’s house… it’s a big, big house with lots and lotsa room, a big, big table with lots and lotsa food…)
After years of regularly reading the Bible, passages pop into my head dependant on immediate circumstances. When I wrote Thankful for Suffering in honor of Thanksgiving, I had the verse about being thankful in every circumstance in mind the entire day as my “Default Thought”. Despite my intentions, I didn’t took the time to look up where Paul had preached it.
When I opened my paper journal this morning, there it was in my own handwriting dated 11/24/07 – and I have absolutely NO recollection of reading the verse, much less writing it down: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Personally, I believe this is the Holy Spirit conforming my mind to be like Christ’s. Regardless of what you attribute such apparent ‘coincidences’ to, you have to admit it is pretty amazing to see how our thoughts ‘have a mind of their own’. This is why I stopped reading romance fiction and let friends know there are some topics I cannot discuss because of my weaknesses. Know your triggers, whether it be holidays, movies, people, whatever. As Paul says, (and I will look this one up!) even if something is not a temptation for me, it may be for who I am with or whoever is watching me. Ironically, I tend to be more liberal around my Christian friends who have a solid belief system and not easily influenced by the world around them.
Pastor Joel used an example this weekend of being so committed to his wife that he did not worry about being tempted by other women; therefore, he is free to hug others without concern. Admittedly, when he said that, I thought “Ohhh, he better be careful, he’s human and can fall into temptation like the rest of us!” Now I understand I too have areas where I cannot be tempted. Just as I would never consider abusing an animal, he would never consider cheating on his wife.
*** I just went online to look up a concluding verse and this was on my Google home page… I think Jesus wants me to use this quote by Two Listeners instead of a verse:
To dwell in thought on the material, when once you live in Me is to call it into being. So you must be careful only to think of and desire that which will help, not hinder, your spiritual growth. Think thoughts of ill-will and ill surrounds you, and those about whom you think. Think Love, and Love surrounds you, and all about whom you think.
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