Choices, Choices, Choices

Your child is getting on your last nerve.

Your boss won't listen to your suggestions/complaints/frustrations/needs.

The cookies you made for tomorrow's bake sale have burned.

Someone ate the last of the ice cream, and you really wanted it!

You don't know how you're going to make it through another day of trials, mistakes, and utter disappointment.

Is any of this resonating with you?
Do you feel as though every day moment is coming at you with fists at the ready to punch you in the gut? Such that you're always on the defensive, ready to strike back at the first sign of attack?
And, how on earth are we supposed to be women who reflect the goodness of God when we're living in circumstances like these which I have described???
Granted, some of the circumstances which drive us to the edge can seem rather trivial. I mean, how bad is it really when someone else eats the last of the ice cream? But when these things pile up on each other, well, it's kind of like that straw on the camel's back. Ya know?

So, what's a woman to do when her world looks like the enemy, but she wants to grow in godliness?

I've been thinking about this question quite a lot lately, as I meet with some friends with the goal of spurring one another on toward being the women God has created us to be. We're reading "Growing Your Faith" together, and the author provided insight to our question. Well, not our question specifically, but close enough. *wink*
The fact of the matter is, every day we are faced with choices in how we're going to respond to our various situations.
Your child gets on your last nerve, and you have a choice: You can blow up at him; or - stop, breathe deeply, and pray. Ask God to remind you what a blessing that little terror boy is. And give thanks.
When your boss won't listen, you have a choice: Let it affect your attitude and the way you respond to other people in your day; or -stop, breathe deeply, and pray. Remember that God always listens to you. That He loves listening to you. And give thanks.
And the cookies... What are you going to do? You could let the frustration come flying out of your mouth to hit some unsuspecting family member in the face. Or - you could stop, breathe deeply, and pray. Ask God to help you have right perspective. They're only cookies, after all. Perhaps you could run to the store and buy some that their bakery didn't burn. Give thanks for that store. And the car you have to get there.

And on it goes.

The thing is, big or small, every day we.have.choices to make in response to our circumstances.
*We can choose to let our circumstances run us over and demolish our spirit and character.
*OR, we can choose to invite God into every moment. We can surrender our desire to explode to HIS desire to work in us. And we can grow in godliness, in spite of our circumstance.
By the power of His Spirit, we can do these things.

The choice is yours.

What will you do?