Living a Godly life has many benefits, by far the greatest of these is peace. I haven’t always known this to be true. I acquired this knowledge later in life. Life has a way of teaching you what is important, the things you should focus on, and the things you need to cast aside.
“Pick your battles.” I heard this statement over the pulpit a few years ago. I didn’t think much about it then, but now I understand. Our lives are far too busy to answer every call, respond to every text, and waste time trying to keep up with the number of “likes” you got on a social media post. Avoid issues that have nothing to do with your destiny, your family, or your goals.
Questions to consider before taking on a task:
- How will this affect my destiny?
- Will I benefit in the long run?
- Is this worth my time and energy?
- Will this task bring me closer to achieving my goals?
If the answer to either one of these questions is NO, then move on. I came to this conclusion quite some time ago, but periodically life will present a challenge to test my conclusion. So, last night I was coming out of the drive-thru of KFC. I needed to make a left turn across two lanes of traffic. I was behind a big truck so my vision was slightly blocked. When I turned left I was in front of an approaching car. I sped up to avoid an accident. At that moment the driver pulled in front of me, she blocked my path, she stopped her car in the middle of traffic and proceeded to call me everything but a child of God. This angry woman then got back in her car. I thought this is it, so I continued to turn left. No, she blocked me again. At this point, I could see she wanted a fight, (there was a time I would have given her what she wanted). She turned into a shopping center and waited. I zoomed around her and proceeded to go on about my business. I didn’t say a word; this was not my battle. I do acknowledge that I was wrong and given the chance I would have gladly apologized. But I chose to seek peace. I even smiled when I got to the next light and thanked God for helping me with self-control. You don’t always have to have the last word.
We’re living in a time when we have so much to be anxious about, the virus, societal unrest, an election that is going on for days and days. I choose peace. I hope you do as well. Life is too short, not to enjoy every minute. That chicken tasted even better when I arrived home.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
