Monday, February 21, 2011

GOD'S MATH

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

In hurtful situations it is easy to find yourself responding in angry impatience because lack of peace and anger will make your base nature rise up. When people mistreat you, lie on you, saying vicious vile things about you, doing you wrong it can be devastating. And it happens most often not from strangers but from family and friends. It feels even worse when they also get other friends and family to join in their evil and collectively come against you, labeling you and reviling you. We have all experienced this. No one is immune. It happens.

What is most difficult is as a Christian who claims to belong to HIM you’re unable to do what your base nature wants you to do, what you believe will make you feel better and what the world will tell you to do. The world says pay back but giving in to anger and giving a piece of your mind never pays off. God will eventually get a hold of you, HIS CHILD and ask you what you will now do. Obey Him? Or, do what your flesh is compelling you to do which is NEVER GOOD. God commands you not to return the favor of evil. He has a different type of math from the world’s math in the equation of evil done to you and your response to it. The world says EVIL X YOUR ANGER = GET EVEN. Gods math is EVIL + PEACE + MERCY+ FORGIVENESS=GOOD MULTIPLIED. This will not add up unless you allow and accept this equation as more true than what your feelings and vision may be telling you. It’s not easy math, in fact its harder than quantum physics when you’re in the midst of an emotional situation and you're hurt... yet, it is so worth it to pay the price, to give up your will/way and utilize God’s math in adversity! You can reap a blessing when evil comes your way if you'll do the right math.  In 1 Peter 3:9 we learn - "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." No matter how complex and difficult the situation, it always works out well when you obey God and I’ve learned it always pays off in amazing ways that bless you and others too. Truthfully that is what we're all called to do, to really be different from the world. No situation is ever permanent and we should always strive to make things better no matter what others may do to you. There's great peace in knowing God will never fail to take care of all that concerns you when you're truly striving to follow Him. He sees everything and will give you justice (He's the only one who can) so go ahead and let evil go anytime it comes--don't let it attach its self to you. Hold on to your peace instead and then when opportunity arises, you take the high road in every situation and watch God work it out for good-making sure you're better than okay, in fact, He says you're blessed in adversity because its a possibility to see Him in a new and different way. Oh how I've found this to be true. He is ever faithful!

 Beloved, I’m praying with and for you.

Please feel free to forward CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. CEENOTES with Cheryl Carr is written and distributed by Arete1 International.

(c) Copyright 2010 Cheryl Carr and ARETE1 International.

Follow me on Facebook : Cheryl Carr and Arete1