People are usually my thorns.
I don’t know if there is something wrong with me or if everyone battles this at times.
I know a lady who wants to be my boss but she is not my boss.
She interferes in my life and gives her unsolicited opinion
and even tells me what to do when it is not her place, which is never.
When people try to control me, I get bugged.
I grew up with a very controlling mother.
Maybe that is why it bothers me so much?
It’s my challenge whenever these people appear, the ones that try to control me.
I have to try to be Christlike and kind and firm at the same time
and sometimes I fail miserably.
I have told her not to try to fill my schedule or to give me directions
as she has no right to do so, but she still does it.
She calls it help.
She takes any and all opportunities to tell me what to do.
Her help is not helpful.
That is just a little background to explain my thorn.
She upsets a lot of people, not just me.
It makes it worse when she twists the thorn and I am supposed to be kind and loving
and I certainly do not have that in my own capabilities.
Then, I need the Lord.
Here’s the problem with that, when it happens, I do not expect it.
I am just going about, minding my own business
and there it comes like a side smack, on my right cheek.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other;
and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Luke 6:29
Have the full armor? I always think I do, but somehow,
there are breaches and the attacks get through.
Somehow, I haven’t done something needed to fortify my walls
or my abilities just are lacking.
Be angry and sin not. Oy vey. I’m bad at this one.
So, here I am with this horrible Haman woman in my life wanting me to serve her.
The greatest among you let him be your servant.
OR
I shall worship the Lord God and Him only will I serve.
Jesus could do both. I’m not there yet.
Jesus could tell the Pharisees to get lost without saying get lost
and He did it well, firmly and without sin.
I try to tell Jesus: I am not You!
He wants me to try and to draw on His strength.
I can’t even do that most of the time.
I feel like I am never going to make it, never going to arrive,
never going to be able to respond as kindly as Jesus would.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me,
lest I should be exalted above measure. 2 Corinthians 12:7
That last scripture was going to be the end of this writing.
I remembered that Paul had a thorn and forgot why the Lord let it be.
“…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me,
lest I should be exalted above measure…”
Oh, I see now. This is to help me be humble.
So, I should be thanking You for this? Not sure I can do that yet, but I’ll work on it.
I’ll let Your Holy Spirit teach me. It makes a lot more sense. Kind of struck the nerve.
Thank You, Jesus, it’s starting to resonate.
Onward.