 I’ve
struggled over what topic I should use for this devotional. Each
time that I searched the Scriptures I came across numerous avenues
that could be chosen. I am a bit surprised at what I feel God
is leading me to write about. I am pleased that the Lord has opened
my own eyes tonight to a different view of a well known verse.
I pray that this will be a help to each of you.
Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much
as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” I
always felt like this verse was teaching me how I should react
in a tough situation. How I should respond to someone trying to
cause strife with me. That I should be the stronger of the two
and I should “dig deep” inside of myself….swallow
hard…and choose peace over strife.
That is not always an easy choice to make, is it? Sometimes, we
truly don’t want to do what we know we should do. We want
to choose the option that we think would give us some sort of
gratification; that would make us feel better at that moment.
I’m afraid we tend to mess things up in our lives quite
often by simply not following the Scriptures.
I have a personal problem with this verse. I can’t “live
peaceably with all men”…sometimes I can’t “live
peaceably” with ME!! I get angry with ME! I get discouraged
with ME!! I get stressed out over ME!! I speak negatively to ME!!
I get depressed because of ME!! Then I let myself think that if
I am such a disappointment to ME, what can God think of ME?? Will
He ever say “Well Done” to ME??
Romans 12:14 “Bless them that persecute
you; bless, and curse not.”
Oh my, listen to ME!! Here I am persecuting ME!! I am not living
peaceably with ALL!!
Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind on toward
another….” When I persecute ME, do I have the “same
mind” toward all of my brothers and sisters in Christ as
I have toward myself? NO, NO , NO!!!!! Only toward ME!!
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one
to another with brotherly love; …” Am I showing ME
any “kindly affection” when I berate myself; when
I allow the devil to discourage ME; when I am angry with ME???
NO, NO, NO!!!
Romans 12:20 “Therefore, if thine enemy
hunger, feed him…” Sometimes I am my own worst enemy!
Perhaps I need to feed ME! Feed ME with Scriptures! Feed ME with
the fellowship of a sister with a kind heart and an open ear!
Feed ME with alone time with my Father!
Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil,
but overcome evil with good.” I should work persistently
on trying to overcome ME with God! (Me being the “evil”
and God being the “good”).
I began this devotional with Romans 12:18 “If it be possible…”
Luke 1:37 says “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Romans 12:18”…as much as lieth in you…”
God lieth in ME! It’s not “impossible” for ME
to live peaceably with ME!! Praise the Lord!!
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