Towards the Dealer? or not? Safe Choices.
This morning as I was contemplating getting up or not, it was so very comfortable tucked up in bed, I was reminded of a very vivid true picture that a friend had shared with me.
This friend like many of you had a severe struggle with an addictive life-controlling issue. She had, with the help of her faith and friends, overcome this really heavy addiction. She was now very aware of the choices she now had to make to "stay clean" and not go down to the ugly, shame-filled, dark again.
This precious lady lived on the same road as her dealer. Lower income and other factors made it practically impossible to move so she knew she had to make some very life-impacting choices every day (sometimes multiple times a day).
This is what she shared with me, "I go to the front door, and stand and pray, I walk outside and with His strength purposely choose to walk in the opposite direction every time I go outside." Is this easy every day?? No way. It takes every ounce of her resolve and courage to walk the opposite way.
Some of you have heard this story but listen on...
I began to ponder this lady's daily choices and began to apply them to some of the thought patterns I have and hear every week through others' lives as they share their struggles.
I stand at my door, the negative thoughts are knocking, the tempting thoughts are knocking, I have a choice, I can walk outside without praying, without thanking my Savior, without giving Him praise and I can choose not to give these spiraling thoughts to Him. I can turn towards the "dealer" the negative thoughts and engage them or I can turn the other way (sometimes so very difficult) and begin to place my thoughts on a different focus,
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you". Philippians 4:8-9
Two questions to think through:
Why wouldn't you want to turn away from the "dealer" in your life?
What boulders are in the way that help create the scenario that you do not think you can, or know how to turn away from "the dealer" in your life?
Remember "the dealer" can be any temptation or trigger, even your own thoughts, maybe even the arrows of the evil one or even a circumstance you may have become caught up in.