In
or into a state of utter disorder or confusion: "turning our ordered life
topsy-turvy"
One problem I've run into with people is preconceived ideas which is an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence. I’ll meet a nice guy, and sometimes I’ll ask a woman why has this Christian guy been single a long time and maybe she will tell me, “From my understanding, it’s his way or the high-way.” I like to determine that for myself, and maybe she was right, but I like to base his character from getting to know a person for myself. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I call it give people the benefit of faith. (Love believes the best. 1 Cor. 13:7)
The
Children of Israel got in trouble for preconceived ideas. Their preconceived
ideas were that the giants in the promise land were too large to take
out. This is after God just delivered them through the Red Sea, several
plagues on Egypt, and they supernaturally had water, bread and quail, a cloud
by day and a pillar of fire at night. The children of Israel saw
themselves as grasshoppers and believed the giants saw them as grasshoppers
too.
We even saw giants there, the
descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that's what
they thought, too!" Numbers 13:3
There
are different types of thinking or behavior, where people place themselves in
the unenviable position of being in a state of self-contradiction (oppose
themselves).
"And the Lord's servant must not
strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness
correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give
them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover
themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto
his will" (II Timothy 2:24-26).
I
try to keep in generalities when I do blogs because I'm not attacking any
individual, but pointing out certain common behaviors of people. The Bible
talks about “common” temptations so there are common behaviors that can tempt
all of us.
No temptation has seized you except what
is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond
what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so
that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor. 10:13
When I was a young Christian, I was in a missionary
group, and the elders assigned partners. My buddy was from Sweden.
Her personality was a little gruff. But, as I started getting to know her
--she became a great buddy and friend. I've had that same experience at
work at times where some women who were are gruff, and I did not like them and
then ended up liking them on my job. It was because I really did not know
them and it was prejudging them due to a harder personality type. I typically
like to be around nursing type women (softer personality types) and I know a
lot of it is in relationship to my mother being harsh at times.
It reminds me of the Seven Dwarfs on Snow
White. One dwarf was grumpy. When I broke my ankle there was this
midget who had a mean look on his face in the waiting room. When I went
back to get my ankle cast on, he ended up sitting next to me, and we ended up
talking about the Bible. He told me about his degenerative disease from
being a midget, and how painful it
was. I believe it was the enemy that was attacking me when I thought he
looked mean, because Satan knew I was going to end up talking to him about the
Bible and encouraging him when he was discouraged.
I had this one guy a couple years ago who was
divorced, and before that he lost his wife to death, I gave him my phone number
through online dating, and the first time we talked on the phone, he already
made up his mind that he was wasting his time. I resent why he was even
on an online dating, and he could keep his preconceived ideas to himself.
Here I was a new person talking to him, and he made up his mind, nothing
but trash is on online dating. I happened to meet my husband through a
single’s ad, and I had to give up my preconceived idea of meeting a stalker
back when I was 36-years old.
Many widows I’ve spoken to have the notion/idea that
their life is over when their husband passes away (especially older
widows). I dealt with this problem with my Christian mother who was
married over fifty years when she lost my dad. I am on a women’s prayer
chain and I see these posts, “My mother wants to know why God is keeping her
around.” My mother did not become very active in volunteer work, but she
developed health issues. Most younger widows (or divorced women) with
children are distracted with their children.
My encouragement for older widows and divorced women
is to pray and seek God night and day like the Bible says. Many of us
work that are younger and if our kids are grown, we have more time on our
hands. I find for me that daily prayer and devotion really gets me
through life right now with a loss and praying that scripture, “Lord I thank
you that you will take what is meant for bad and turn it for good.” Volunteer
work has helped some too.
We have the example of Joseph that did not get
bitter towards his brothers for what happened in his life, and God turned what was
meant for harm for good. Job’s wife seemed angry and Naomi
eventually focused on her raising a grandson through her daughter-in-law
Ruth. I think it would have been somewhat easier for Naomi if her sons
had children. I find that little babies (grandchildren) do brighten my
day. I know my two younger granddaughters helped my mother.
The widow who is really in need and left
all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and
to ask God for help. 1 Timothy 5:5
It’s become a regular prayer of mine now that
whenever anything bad happens to me that God turns it around for my good. “God
help me find some good to come out this attack on my life.”
And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose. Romans 8:28
You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many
lives. Genesis 5:20
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