Testing That Fruit

 

Good grief! You speak on fruit, and the testers come out of the woodwork! Road ragers, keyboard crusaders, pissy family members, disobedient dogs, inconveniences, you name it, the testing ensues. It seems like all your (my)buttons are being pushed at once, from every direction.  

* feet firmly planted in The Word...get some of those step by step instructions found throughout the Word. Have scripture committed to memory, you(I) will recall them as needed ...check

* listen to the guidance of The Holy Spirit... so many times we(I) hear His voice, yet don't heed the warning. Use your(my) memory of scripture to measure what you're(I'm) hearing, if it is sound, compatible with The Word, then shema ...check

* remember who you(I) represent... I have a tetragrammaton in paleo Hebrew sticker in every vehicle's rear window, therefore the way I drive is judged by a certain standard because I display His Name. I try to imagine that this tetragrammaton is tatooed on my forehead,  for the whole world to see. So every word, every deed is a reflection of the one of whom I am an ambassador. As a matter of fact, our words and deeds should be such that there's no question to whom you(I) belong.  Represent well ...check

*never give yourself(myself) permission to get in the mud, tit4tat, retaliation,  sarcasm, and the such. Sometimes the test can blindside you(me) and get you(me) to respond in the flesh. It's a good habit to withhold any and all responses to the count of ten or so. I've never regretted something I didn't say. Weigh and measure your(my) words, no impulsive responses ... check

* the more your(my) thoughts ponder The Word and communicate with Yah thru prayer and worship, the less the tests ruffle your(my) feathers. That's the peace that passes understanding.  Having peace in the midst of circumstances that seem impossible to allow peace. Only abiding in The Spirit can give you true peace like this. Self control will get you(me) so far, but the Ruach(Spirit) takes you(me) all the way. 

Growing up in the church I was often challenged with the question of "would you deny Christ in the face of persecution?" I envisioned standing before a guillotine,  of course I would choose the guillotine, I'd never deny my Savior. But the tests are seldom that obvious or dramatic.  Denying Him can be as simple as choosing the flesh over the Spirit. 

A work in progress 

Teresa