But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. (II Thessalonians 3:3)
If you read through Proverbs, you’ll see this idea a lot. You’ll also see that He will protect you from the fool. You’ll also see that you are supposed to keep yourself from the evil one and the fool. Of course, what comes to mind as I read such promises is Pogo’s line, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” Another good line is “He who represents himself has a fool for a client.” It goes both ways. God protects, but we’re supposed to protect ourselves, too. There’s no excuse for our being lazy or ignorant.
I tell people that I hate making arbitrary decisions. It goes a little further than that. I was talking to a friend today who says that he looks for the easiest way. When I was looking for a vehicle several years ago, I reached the conclusion that my father didn’t want to make any decisions (and future events proved me correct about that.) My desire in making a decision is to make the Right decision. What’s the Right decision about what color shirt to wear? What’s the Right decision about making a purchase? (Dad had his answer for this – “Just Don’t.”) What’s the Right decision about the stuff in the basement?
This is one reason why my request for the prayers of others tends to be “wisdom, direction, and attitude.” Another is my minority status. No matter what I think or do, I seem to be in the minority who think and do those things, and that means others regularly tell me how wrong I am because I don’t think or do the way they do. Self-doubt finds good soil when fertilized in that way.
And now that Dad’s gone, I get to make decisions about myself for myself and by myself. It’s a little scary… But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen me and protect me from the evil one, even if that’s me!
I tell people that I hate making arbitrary decisions. It goes a little further than that. I was talking to a friend today who says that he looks for the easiest way. When I was looking for a vehicle several years ago, I reached the conclusion that my father didn’t want to make any decisions (and future events proved me correct about that.) My desire in making a decision is to make the Right decision. What’s the Right decision about what color shirt to wear? What’s the Right decision about making a purchase? (Dad had his answer for this – “Just Don’t.”) What’s the Right decision about the stuff in the basement?
This is one reason why my request for the prayers of others tends to be “wisdom, direction, and attitude.” Another is my minority status. No matter what I think or do, I seem to be in the minority who think and do those things, and that means others regularly tell me how wrong I am because I don’t think or do the way they do. Self-doubt finds good soil when fertilized in that way.
And now that Dad’s gone, I get to make decisions about myself for myself and by myself. It’s a little scary… But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen me and protect me from the evil one, even if that’s me!
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