Today’s tip is simple and difficult: Pause.
As I was standing up from a seated position, I realized that pausing before starting to walk is now automatic. I pause and reorient my body. I pause and get ready to take the next step. It made me think of how we should also do that spiritually and emotionally.
Starting to worry? Pause.
Becoming overwhelmed? Pause.
Uncertain what to do? Pause.
Tired, weak, weary, and ready to react to something someone says? Pause.
The brunt of misunderstanding? Pause.
It is what we do in the pause that makes a difference.
I was reading in Numbers 21 (see below) yesterday where the children of Israel became discouraged on their journey as they had no bread or water, but the light bread (manna?). Now, we may think that having no bread or water would justify discouragement and even complaining. Yet, when they spoke against God, He punished them with fiery serpents. They then cried out to Him and He provided a way of escape.
There is a lot to unpack in the Scripture, but it hit me yesterday as I read it that we need to pause and think before we complain, become overwhelmed, or speak, especially when we aren’t feeling well. (It seems it is easier to react wrongly at that time, at least for me.) God takes complaining seriously. If not complaining, our words during this time could also cause someone else a lot of hurt. We need to pause and reorient ourselves before going on.
You see, we need to praise Him all the time. He has provided all that we need to live for Him at all times. (Even as I write this, I am convicted as it was a MONDAY which was not easy. I need to praise Him in this day.)
I have also been (SLOWLY) working on memorizing 2 Peter. I am almost done with chapter 1 verses 1-4. It has truly blessed my heart in this area of realizing that He provides all we need to live! No matter what we face, He has given us all we need. I don’t mean that He has just given us physical needs but also everything we need to live a godly life, to honor Him, no matter the circumstances. Selah!
Before we react to whatever is happening, we need to pause. Pause and refocus on God. Take a moment to switch your perspective and choose how you are going to react. Call out to Him for help!
Pause!
Numbers 21 “4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Nu 21:4–9.”
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