Decide Not

This past summer, I have been reading a lot of new authors.  It is really going out in the deep waters for me, for I have my favorites.  And I tend to stay with them…some of them don’t write often enough to suit me.

So I sit waiting for their new books to come out, waiting with bated breath. Once they do, sometimes I shamefully devour them at the expense of my family, daily commitments and, truth be told, sleep.

I am an avid reader.  I read voraciously for months and then I switch over to knitting or crocheting for a time, then I am back in full swing.

One of the authors I have been reading is Robert Whitlow.  I like his style and even his sense of telling more at times and less at times than necessary.  It reads well, with much to read between the lines and then on the other side, telling detailed descriptions to invite me into the room to see firsthand.

I like his style.

Right now I am reading Whitlow’s Water’s Edge and he just wrote a sentence that has me stirred up and nodding.

So I had to share it here…

As background, one character is asking a question that is basically a set-up for a bitter reply.

 But rather, the other character replies this way, “Yes, but we decided not to stay in that spot for the rest of our lives.”

Ah yes.  Do you see where this is heading?

For the enemy of our souls would love for the feeding of bitterness to reap a harvest.  Yes, he would.

And the lover of our souls, Jesus, wants us to decide not to stay in that spot.

We could rehearse the who’s and what’s and why’s in our lives–the springboards that flung us in the mud, the triggers that shot us down or the needles that burst our bubbles. But there is really nothing to be gleaned from it.

Truly, I tell you–deal with it outright.  Deal with it in your heart.  Deal with it in regards to the ones who brought hurt.  FORGIVE them.

Then decide not to dwell in that spot.

Move on.

Release them…and in the process take your own sweet feet from the trap. And walk forward in grace and truth.

Have you some areas today where you just simply need to Decide Not?  

It is a FOR you kind of decision, beloved.  If there is no resolution or reconciliation to be had on this side of Heaven, then you must, for your own sake, you must decide not to stay in that spot.

Begin to build anew starting today. Sometimes we just need to put it all in place and perspective…