Tuesday, September 15, 2009

"Play it Down- - - Pray it Up!"

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8:27-29


My dad used to have this really simple solution for the tumultuous stress that would invade our lives. Regret, anger, bitterness, resentment, seething-frustration all sometimes seem like thereis nothing you can do about it. My dad’s statement, “Play it down. Pray it up!” I used to hate it when he would say things like that but now I love it and love him for raising me with such a solid foundation and teaching me the role of poise in my life. Don’t be surprised when your life is full of poison. People do that on purpose to you. They are overflowing and can’t help but spill or vomit it out onto you. It takes poise to live above the vast majority which are catching poisonous emotions faster than the swine flu.

Psychiatrist, Augusto Cury in Think and Make it Happen (page 76) says, “People who master the arts of listening and dialoguing will become more generous, more tolerant, humbler and moresecure. They will notice more of a balance in their lives. Their creativity will improve because they’re opening themselves to others’ ideas even as they blossom within. They will also be greater influences for good in the lives of others.”

Listening and dialoguing with people is an adventure with untold treasure waiting to be discovered. But so it is with God when we play down problems (instead of exaggerating them—which never helps anyone) and decide to handle them in the right way with the right people. When we pray it up we realize that Jesus is the Messiah and he shares our burdens with him. Wow- - - What a partner, what a Lord, what a Savior! Why not pray it up!

Emotional health awaits those who are ready to receive the help of Jesus and think like he did.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

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