As I
shoveled the snow from my deck, the stinging words came back to me again and
again, like the repetitive motion of shoveling and dumping off snow. Because my
mind was not otherwise occupied, her words intruded on this peaceful setting.
The fresh fallen snow was fluffy and plentiful, and the sun was now shining
through the trees, every bough laced in white. Despite the beauty all around
me, my mind was focused on petty things.
Then I had
a very strong impression in my spirit. “Why
would you let her words linger longer than Mine?”
Right. So
right!
I read
every morning about God’s unfailing love, His abiding strength, His perfect direction,
His freely given wisdom, His bountiful blessings and His promises to restore
and redeem, and bring beauty from ashes! Why, oh why, aren’t these the words
that keep circulating in my brain?
“Why would you let her words linger
longer than Mine?”
Thank you,
oh gracious God! Yours are the words that are worth repeating.
I so need
to stand guard against the wiles of the evil one who uses these tactics to
distract me from all that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable,
excellent and praiseworthy! If he can get me to ruminate on a few words from a
conversation, social media post, movie or any other lesser thing, my mind will
be engaged with that instead.
But what
power there is when I realize this intrusion and swoosh it out (like sweeping
the last of the snow from the deck), replacing it with trust and peace, abiding
in God’s loving words.
Lord, I will let your sweet words of
everlasting love roll around again and again in my mind. Forsaking all others, I
will give your words the place they deserve.
