upside down thinking & living

I had all of these thoughts on Sunday afternoon, and thought I'd share.  My hope here on this little space of interwebs is to always encourage and point to Jesus.  (It's also for my own forgetfulness, which is why I share everything.  I want all the memories.)

STOP.

I wonder what would happen if we all stopped believing the lies of the enemy?  That we're unloved, unworthy, not cared for by friends and family?  I think I know what would happen~I think we'd all be walking around, those of us who are believers in and followers of Jesus, a lot more confident on Whose we are and on who we are as children of the Most High God.  It is good knowing that my confidence rests in Him. 

What about jealousy~I wonder what would happen if we stopped envying each other?  I think I know that answer, too.  I think we'd be happy for our friends/family over their accomplishments.  I think we'd all look like champions of each other as we cheered one another on. 

I wonder what it would be like if we stopped comparing ourselves to what we see online or in other people?  I know for a fact that we would be content with what we have.  I have lived this out and know it to be true, and I'll share my story with you.  Years ago, our washing machine or dryer went out, I forget which one, but it was right about the time when those fancy colorful front loaders had come out, and I thought to myself, "SELF!  I wonder if we could have a set of those new shiny ones?" I'm sure I nagged my husband about this, but he was able to repair what was wrong, and we kept our old set (that worked perfectly well after he'd made the repair).  I had come across some verses in Philippians 4 that really struck a chord with me, and I prayed them over my own wandering heart: I began asking the Lord to make me content.  I'm going to share the verses.

I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content--whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.  I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:12-13

For context, Paul was making a statement that he'd learned to do well at all times through the strength the Lord gave to him, but I am telling you that when I started praying that way and asking the Lord to help me to be content like Paul, He surely did.

I wonder what would happen if we stopped trying to catch up with other people?  Would we decide to stay put instead of moving into a bigger and better (fancier) home?  Would we drive our older cars a lot longer?  I know that if we did those things we sure could save ourselves a whole lot of stress.  The love of money is evil, the Bible tells us and if we all lived within our means then families wouldn't fall apart and marriages wouldn't crumble.  (Disclaimer: I know that those are not the only reasons why divorce happens.)

I wonder what our lives would look like if we all read the Bible every single day?  I know the answer to this too!  We would be kinder, gentler, more loving, humble, more patient.  We wouldn't be quick to judge and we would be slow to speak and quick to listen.

I wonder what it would look like if we all stopped jumping onto whatever bandwagon is going on at the time?  I think we would all be a little more quick to find out information for ourselves and do the research, and stop trusting what everyone else is saying and doing.

I wonder what would happen if instead of arguing, we'd just hit that "unfollow" button?  As my sister Debi would say, if you do that it'll set you free.

I wonder what would it look like if we all knew and lived out 2 Peter 3:9?

The Lord does not delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

I think we'd all stop with the running from God.  So many people believe they're not good enough to be "saved", but nothing we could ever do would be good enough for the gift He gave to us by dying on a cross: eternal life. 

I pray these words cause you to reflect on the what if's I've written out.  Thanks for reading, friends.  Love to all.