LOOSE THEM AND LET THEM GO

[The following is a reprint of my post of January 8, 2014.]

I got up this morning saying to myself, "My attack thoughts are on the march." I picked up one of my books of daily spiritual insights, and today’s message is, "I pray I may welcome difficulties." Don't tell me God isn't aware of my every need.

I sat down and listed some of the things my attack thoughts are revisiting...nothing new nor different which is the good news. But in the sitting and pondering, a blinding flash of the obvious: All of these are God's "rod and staff." What a comfort that is to me. Which is exactly what my beloved 23rd Psalm promises.

All my uglies were hand-picked by me. Maybe it's like that old novelty song says, "When they were passing out noses, I thought they said roses, and I said, 'I'll have a big red one.'" But for sure, when I was making my selections, I was following my ego's dictates, and the ego always legislates for itself. So these are the tools I chose. I have used them for years, and they never did for me what my ego promised...and promises still.

Here’s the good news…I get to regift them! I get to give them over to God which God then uses as his rod and staff to bring me back into the fold, his world.

This is why I pray I may welcome difficulties...to give to God for him to use for my benefit. Otherwise, they remain my ego's self-determined objectives, and I'm just building more rues, regrets and remorses.

Thank you.