Tag: wisdom

Forward Friday: The Hard Truths

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I enjoy spending my time asking friends to tell me all the bad things about myself. I thrive on it really.

Said no one ever. 

Someone I love once a hundred times told me, “You don’t listen. You’re the most hardheaded person I’ve ever met.”

Ask me how that went over. 

Not.  Well.

Pretty sure my insides heated to 950 billion degrees and my reaction came in fiery breaths and words. Because when you’ve been struck with the arrow of a hard truth, the initial response is to fire back with whatever the enemy has poisoned and placed in your quiver.

Hearing hard truths from loved ones…hurts. It raises our defenses. It can get nasty. 

This is one of my husband’s favorite verses (ESV). Maybe because it gives license to call someone stupid (just kidding). 

Correction, discipline is necessary to grow as a human being. To grow spiritually. But it’s hard to hear. Hard to take. “For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:12 NLT

If we don’t listen and examine ourselves–if we don’t let God examine our hearts and reveal to us the hard truths, we’ll continue to repeat the same mistakes. And repeating the same thing hoping for new endings is the definition of insanity. Let’s not be stupid and insane. 🙂 

Lately, I’ve been advising a loved one about relationships. But this person doesn’t want to hear the hard truths, and it’s going to cause yet another downfall. It’s frustrating to watch. It’s painful to endure. This person will not see they might have some behaviors they need to change. Some issues in their heart that needs refining and softened. And this person refuses to step back and let words of wisdom reign.

And while ranting to the Lord about this, He reminded me that I haven’t dealt with all of the hard truths I’ve been given. I don’t want to see I might have some behaviors I need to change. Some issues in my heart that needs refining and softened. And I’ve refused to step back and let the words of wisdom reign.

I handle the hard stuff much better when it comes from God–straight to my spirit. I guess I don’t like flawed people pointing out my own. Maybe it’s the plank and speck scenario. Maybe I’m just prideful. Probably a bit of both. Maybe you are too? And sometimes, even when I do listen to God’s conviction upon my heart, I don’t always follow through. But I want to. How about you?

 

Forward Challenge: If you know you’ve been given a hard truth and you handled it badly, ask God and the person who delivered it in love for forgiveness, then commit to working on that truth. God is gracious and merciful and He’s the Potter! He can transform us inside out. If you have to deliver a hard truth, pray thoroughly, then make sure you’re going in love. Season your words with grace. And trust God to handle the rest.

Forward Scripture and Prayer: 

 

How are you at handling hard truths? 

 

 

 

 

 

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In the Word Wednesday: Get Your Strut On, because it’s all about pace Part 3

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Today I am answering 5 easy questions on Jill Kemerer’s blog! Come by and say hi!

Okay, on with the show this is it…
“There are three things which are majestic in pace, Yes, four which are stately in walk; A lion which is mighty among the beasts and does not turn away from any; A greyhound, and male goat also…” Proverbs 30:29-31

We’ve been looking at the wisdom of Agur in this particular passage. To catch up, you can read Part 1 and Part 2.

Let’s ask the same questions we asked about the lion and the greyhound (which isn’t a bus or a dog!). What’s so special about a goat? Just by looking at the picture, I’d say nothing.

Now I know goats are usually on the left and separated from the sheep in scripture as well as referred to as buckers and sinners, but not so in this particular passage. And this is the passage we’re studying!

Male Goats are a picture of what a Mature Christian should look like.

First of all, they’re social animals.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42

Goats like to spend time in fellowship with one another. Socializing with other believers is God mandated! How great is that! You never have to feel guilty for hanging with some gal-pals from church. 🙂

Interesting fact: Goats prefer to surround themselves with goats of their same breed in a mixed herd.

Should we become friends with those who don’t know Jesus? YES! Building relationships with unbelievers is an important way to lead someone to Christ. I have lots of friends that are unbelievers. Some I’ve known for years and they don’t go to church, but I guarantee you when there is a crisis in their family–they call me. They ask me to pray.

But I don’t spend my intimate time with them. Why? Because many times and as my mom used to tell me, “It’s easier to be brought down than lift someone up.” I need the iron sharpening iron in my life. So do you. It’s a sign of a mature Christian.

Even when Jesus left the homes of tax collectors and various “sinners” He spent most of His time with 12, and 3 He was even closer with. (Peter, James, and John)

Goats are notorious for undoing closures.

“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
Don’t let anything lock you up or bind you! There is always a way out.

Goats investigate everything.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

This verse comes at an appropriate time. If what people declare as truth doesn’t line up with scripture, then it’s false. It takes a mature Christian to know this because a mature Christian digs into their word and studies it!

Goats are avid climbers and can hold their balance in precarious places.

“For You have delivered my soul from death.Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?” Psalm 56:13 I look at this picture and I think there is no way I could do that, but with God’s strength we can do anything! We can walk anywhere and trust Him to keep us from falling.

Goat’s hooves are made to withstand rocky and small place. They walk with ease. It’s pretty amazing to see them just moving along in scary places with ease.

When our faith is in God, tight places are easier to walk and that’s amazing to those who do not have our faith.

What we’ve learned so far:
1. Know who you are in Christ so 2. You can serve Him. As you serve and study you will 3. Mature in  Christ

It’s not a random order here. Agur listed these things by deliberate design. Next Wednesday we will study the last majestic thing: A king whose troops are with him.

I forgot to announce the winner of Desert gift. Congrats to Sheri Salatin!

Question: What animal do you find most interesting and why?