Mindsets?

(05.25.21 – Problems -Isaiah 60:1-13)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Sometimes do life's problems push us into a sort of unrealistic mindset of irrational coping, and we assume a false sense of security that may mask the problem?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Sometimes when the going gets tough even the tough are stymied. And, sometimes there's no alternative to just simply giving up. Big problems normally require big action. The problem with trying to grab hold of some big problems with your bare hands is often they're too powerful to push back and too large to put yours arms around. It's at times like this that we need to be sure that we're allowing ourselves to see the problem for what it really is and not what we think it is. Time for a reality check!

Here's a story: A golfer who had been playing badly went to a psychiatrist who told him to relax by playing a round of golf without a ball. The golfer tried it the next day. First he imagined he got a 260-yard drive, made a fine approach shot to the green, then–putted for a par. As he approached the 18th hole, he met another golfer playing the same way. They decided to play the last hole together. The first golfer swung at his imaginary ball and announced that it had gone 280 yards right down the middle of the fairway. The second golfer matched his drive. The first fellow then took out his 5-iron and after swinging at his imaginary ball, he exclaimed, "Look at that shot! It went right over the pin and the reverse spin on it brought it right back into the hole! I win." "No you don't," said the second golfer pointing at the fairway. "You didn't hit your ball at all; you hit mine." (Bits and Pieces, February, 1990, p. 16.)

Sometimes life's problems push us into a sort of unrealistic mindset of irrational coping. We assume a false sense of security that may mask the problem temporarily but invariably leads us into deeper trouble down the road. We imagine ourselves into a position of control that is nothing more than an illusion. After time we may even find ourselves believing that what is unreal is real.

It's never good to put our hope in the illusion of self-help; rather, it's best to place our hope in the reality of God's ability to make things happen. The fact of the matter is this: ultimately we're not in control; He is. Because His plans are often beyond our ability to understand, reality is often more than what we're able to envision on our own. That's when we need to stop and take a "reality check." When our reality checks focus on waiting on God, finding out what He has to say about our problems and what solutions He might bring to bear on them, only then are we able to bring our own efforts to bear upon life's problems. Finding reality outside of God's will is like golfing without a ball. It's easy to cope but far more difficult to win. You never know whose ball you might be hitting.

We pray. Heavenly Father, Your plans are often beyond our ability to understand, reality is often more than what we're able to envision on our own. That's when we need to stop and take a "reality check." When our reality checks focus on waiting on You, finding out what You have to say about our problems and what solutions You might bring to bear on them, only then are we able to bring our own efforts to bear upon life’s problems. Forgive us when we try to find reality outside of Your will, trying to cope but unable to win. When life’s problems push us into an unrealistic mindset of irrational coping, comfort us with Your loving Spirit. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Mindsets?

(05.25.21 – Problems -Isaiah 60:1-13)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Sometimes do life's problems push us into a sort of unrealistic mindset of irrational coping, and we assume a false sense of security that may mask the problem?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Sometimes when the going gets tough even the tough are stymied. And, sometimes there's no alternative to just simply giving up. Big problems normally require big action. The problem with trying to grab hold of some big problems with your bare hands is often they're too powerful to push back and too large to put yours arms around. It's at times like this that we need to be sure that we're allowing ourselves to see the problem for what it really is and not what we think it is. Time for a reality check!

Here's a story: A golfer who had been playing badly went to a psychiatrist who told him to relax by playing a round of golf without a ball. The golfer tried it the next day. First he imagined he got a 260-yard drive, made a fine approach shot to the green, then–putted for a par. As he approached the 18th hole, he met another golfer playing the same way. They decided to play the last hole together. The first golfer swung at his imaginary ball and announced that it had gone 280 yards right down the middle of the fairway. The second golfer matched his drive. The first fellow then took out his 5-iron and after swinging at his imaginary ball, he exclaimed, "Look at that shot! It went right over the pin and the reverse spin on it brought it right back into the hole! I win." "No you don't," said the second golfer pointing at the fairway. "You didn't hit your ball at all; you hit mine." (Bits and Pieces, February, 1990, p. 16.)

Sometimes life's problems push us into a sort of unrealistic mindset of irrational coping. We assume a false sense of security that may mask the problem temporarily but invariably leads us into deeper trouble down the road. We imagine ourselves into a position of control that is nothing more than an illusion. After time we may even find ourselves believing that what is unreal is real.

It's never good to put our hope in the illusion of self-help; rather, it's best to place our hope in the reality of God's ability to make things happen. The fact of the matter is this: ultimately we're not in control; He is. Because His plans are often beyond our ability to understand, reality is often more than what we're able to envision on our own. That's when we need to stop and take a "reality check." When our reality checks focus on waiting on God, finding out what He has to say about our problems and what solutions He might bring to bear on them, only then are we able to bring our own efforts to bear upon life's problems. Finding reality outside of God's will is like golfing without a ball. It's easy to cope but far more difficult to win. You never know whose ball you might be hitting.

We pray. Heavenly Father, Your plans are often beyond our ability to understand, reality is often more than what we're able to envision on our own. That's when we need to stop and take a "reality check." When our reality checks focus on waiting on You, finding out what You have to say about our problems and what solutions You might bring to bear on them, only then are we able to bring our own efforts to bear upon life’s problems. Forgive us when we try to find reality outside of Your will, trying to cope but unable to win. When life’s problems push us into an unrealistic mindset of irrational coping, comfort us with Your loving Spirit. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.