Day 363

Some days are so easy.  I wake up with a song on my lips and just glide through the entire day.  That doesn't mean there are no challenges.  But even the biggest challenges seem inconsequential.  On the other hand, some days are not so easy.

Day 363 of The Red Shoe Project 

has been one of those days!

I woke up way too early today -- long before my alarm went off -- and couldn't get back to sleep.  Before even getting out of bed, I could see that it was somewhat overcast and drizzly outside.  Now that doesn't bother me.  The greatest day of my life -- the day I asked Jesus into my heart -- was a gloomy, overcast day with pouring rain.  True... it was a mess of a day, but I was shining from the inside out, so it didn't matter!

This morning when I opened my eyes, I wasn't shining on the inside.  My body seemed to ache all over.  I trudged into the bathroom and headed immediately for the shower in hope that all I really needed was to wake up.  When that proved not to be the problem, I sat on the edge of the bathtub, wrapped in a towel and prayed that God would dress me in my spiritual armor.  No sense in waiting any longer!  I can't stand being a sitting duck for the enemy!

Then I had to walk it out!  I had to believe by faith that God heard my sincere prayer.  Oh the arrows kept flying at me.  All the negative thoughts kept catapulting towards me.

"You're never going to amount to much."

"That will never happen."

"Blah... blah... blah... "

In my mind, I broke those arrows in Jesus' Name!  That's right -- I pictured myself catching the arrows in mid air, breaking them in half and tossing them to the ground. Eventually I got bored and turned my attention to something else.

Isn't that the biggest challenge of all? -- Getting your mind and focus off the tormenting words of the enemy and moving on?  All day those arrows were coming at me.  Most of the time I was wrapped up in other, more promising things, so I paid no attention.  But even still -- later in the day after spending some time with friends -- I came home and the voices were louder than ever.   Good thing my ears were tuned in to God's voice.  For right then and there, He gave me some specific instruction:

"Don't say it!"

cautioned the Lord.

"Don't open your mouth.

Don't repeat it.

Don't even think it!"  

That was God's advice.

When we speak things out loud, our ears hear them.  When our ears hear them, very often our brain takes action accordingly.  Next thing you know, you're out in left field wondering how you ended up knee high in crap.  It's because you spoke the words the devil planted in your mind - You watered them and let them grow.  Don't do it!  God instructs us to think otherwise:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever

is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --

think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

No RED gardening boots for me today!  I refuse to wallow in the muck and mire.  No sir!  I'm sporting my RED high heels, keeping my mind focused on noble things and singing praises to God until this stormy spiritual weather passes.

Gail