Breathe deep...

Exhale...

If it was in my power to do so, I would have erased this day from the calendar altogether....or maybe just the first half of the day. This morning I was called upon to do something I would rather not do....EVER. But, beyond my control, it had to be done...so I did it. I'll not get into the details of the task...that's not really the point here. The point is this:

Life is made up of lots of things we don't sign up for. We get called upon to handle something we don't feel qualified in the flesh to handle, and we have a choice to make. Freeze in temporary paralysis...or breathe. One deep breath at a time. At first thought, paralysis looks more inviting....and I often try it on for size first. But, as with my situation this morning, some things are just NOT going to go away and must be faced head-on. Deep breath....exhale.

I had ordered my morning in such a way as to have a few moments of quiet before I went on my way. Thankfully. In the quiet of those few moments a thought came to me that the anxiety that was welling up inside me was not of the LORD but a trick of the enemy to get my eyes OFF the One who promised to walk beside me and ONTO him. Even allowing a little anxiety was giving a piece of ME over to him. "Be anxious for NOTHING..." The moment I gave back control, I felt peace wash over me. The circumstances had not miraculously changed....but I changed the direction of my focus and gave control back where it belonged.

I still hate everything about this morning...I'm not necessarily thrilled with the outcome of it, but I've learned a few things:

1. The enemy does NOT get to say how I will respond to unpleasant situations.

2. Though he thinks he can push me to his side, the enemy does not get to take my eyes off of the One who holds me.

3. Faith means we act in accordance with what we KNOW...not in what we see.

4. All I really need to know is that I'm being obedient in my actions and my attitudes...HE is able to take care of the rest.

5. Even when things turn out contrary to what I'd like, He is still LORD over ALL things, people and situations.

Victory in a situation doesn't necessarily mean that I've gotten what I wanted or that things have turned out according to my plans. Victory means I've stood my ground, looked the enemy in the eye and walked in full confidence that he is already defeated. Victory doesn't necessarily look like victory to human eyes...

Today victory looks like a task completed, an enemy defeated and a chapter closed...

I can't ask for more than that, so I breathe deep and exhale...