Last night while at Walgreens, I finally remembered to buy new deodorant. I’ve been out for several days and kept forgetting to get it. Are you like me, do you go into a store with a mental list of 3 things, come out with 15 things but forgot 2 of the original list items? That’s me lately. So I was glad I remembered the deodorant… and I’m thinking those that come in contact with me are probably glad as well.
Over the past several deodorantless days I would be out somewhere and realize that I stunk – literally that stick your fingers in your armpits, take them out and smell them and nearly pass out stink. (Remember that SNL Mary Katherine Gallegar “Superstar” character?) Anyway, are you wondering why the heck I’m sharing my stinky tale when I entitled this post “Wednesday’s Wisdom from the Word”?
Most women (in America at least) wouldn’t dream of leaving their home in the morning without first putting on deodorant. The thought of someone smelling our stink leads us to each morning rub, spray or roll on Ban, Sure or some other brand that promises to keep you smelling shower fresh all day. Yet most of us walk out the door without any thought to our spiritual stink.
What do we do each morning to ensure that we will make good choices that day, that we will be kind and patient with the testy sales clerk or unreasonable boss, that we will have self control to not speak badly about someone, that we will not boast in ourselves, that we would encourage those around us instead of tear them down (especially our spouse and kids)?
As I’ve been reading through Philippians several times this past week, another verse has really stuck out to me: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13) I have found that when I spend time reading the Bible and praying in the morning, I’m allowing God to work in me and He really does give me the desire and the power to do what pleases him through the day.
So what pleases God? I think the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians sums it up: to be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t things that come naturally to us, that’s why they are the fruit (or result) of the Spirit working in us. That’s why God says He will give us the desire and the power to live that way.
So I’m trying to make sure to start each day with both some deodorant and some time with God. That way I’m not so stinky (both figuratively and literally) to those around me.
I like this blog..I never really thought of faith and deordorant in the same context. So it made me think..if we forget to put it on (faith or deordorant) in the morning, we will have to come home and try and wash all the (for lack of a better word) stink in the afternoon.
Lately, I have not exactly had the desire or the power to do what I know God has called me to do. Going from a family of 4 to 6 has seemed to drain me of these things. I’m going to print out Phillipians 2:13 and hang it on my refridgerator to remind me that God is working in me right now to obtain desire and power…I don’t need to stress myself out trying to create them on my own. Thanks Becki!
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