Walking Wisely In The Midst Of The Storm
I will behave wisely in a perfect way.
Oh, when will You come to me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
(Psalm 101:2)
When I read the scripture above, I think of the times where I have tried to walk wisely and have that perfect heart only to stumble and fall because of my flesh. To walk wisely when you are upset isn’t an easy task. Our minds think of all different things we could do…yell, throw things, rip things up, walk away…but that isn’t the godly way of handling things. We must try and work things out to the best of our ability, as Paul tells us in Romans 12:18 to live peacefully with each other:
“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
How hard it is to fight against our flesh when we are in an emotional state of frustration, anger, sadness, and fear. We want to do what is right but it seems we allow our flesh to take over because it’s the easier thing to do and it makes us feel better temporarily…equivalent to the effects of drugs and alcohol. So how do we fight our flesh so we do not sin? By going back to the scriptures and reminding ourselves of what they say which is what I’ve had to do time and again.
To walk in a perfect way means we remain aware of what is going on in situations around us and watch ourselves that we do not fall into sin. It’s being able to identify the tricks and tactics of the enemy that are used to make us fall into our old habits and ways. Are we expected to be perfect? No because only God is perfect. But it does mean we watch our walk especially if we proclaim to be a Christian. How do we have a perfect heart? By following what the scriptures tell us to do, always being mindful of the Word of God even in our emotional state as God will always supply His Word in one way or another to remind us when He sees we are having a hard time.
James 1:14-15 tells us the following:
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
God does not tempt us, but the enemy does. How does the enemy tempt us? Through our own desires. We have a choice to either give in to our flesh and react negatively or to surrender (submit) it to God and resist the temptation to be drawn back to our old ways of handling things:
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Our old ways of handling things can be through drugs, alcohol, overeating, cutting, yelling, destroying things and people, sexual immorality, etc. Sometimes the temptation may be so strong that it may take getting down on our knees and crying out to God. But don’t worry because God will also give us a way out of temptation so we can bear it when we come to Him as it states in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
God will give us an escape route so we can bear the temptation, but it is for our good that we stand up against it and defeat it through the power of Jesus Christ. By standing up against it and defeating it each time, we become stronger and “it” becomes weaker.
Walking wisely in the midst of a storms and trials isn’t an easy task and takes work, but when we stay close to God, He makes it possible to keep a level head and not get caught up on the surface of what we are seeing.
What is it you need to stand up to today? What has been trying to knock you down and drag you back to your old ways? Know that you have a powerful God behind you who will give you the strength you need to stand up against it and defeat if you only ask Him for help. You can’t do it on your own, but as it states in Philippians 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
Lord, I feel the temptations wanting to draw me back to my old ways. I’m not that old person any longer. Grant me the strength to say “no” to my old ways when it comes knocking on my door. Help me to submit to You and resist the enemy so he will flee. I turn myself over to You Lord. Help me now and keep me strong. In Jesus name…Amen.