Wise people listen to wisdom especially if wisdom comes in the form of a warning. Warnings take place when one person knows about something that the other doesn’t. The wise always listen to warning but if you are like me- well! Maybe you learn the hard way.
As I write this I truly hope I have learned from my past mistakes, I hope I have become teachable and wiser.Before I share my warning, let’s talk about Peter. Yes the disciple of whom Jesus has told on you Peter I will build my church, Peter the rock.
Jesus had been saying many things one which was I am going to die and Peter I guess filled with fear or speaking from a point lack of knowledge says “never” we see Jesus telling him “get behind me satan”Later on Jesus washed his disciples feet and Peter protested not mine and only conceded when Christ told him if he doesn’t wash his feet then he had no part with Him (Jesus Christ)Finally at the last supper Christ told the disciples that he would be arrested and they all would disperse to which Peter replied I will go to the very end. Jesus told Peter about the devil wanting to sift him like wheat but Jesus prayed when he had returned he would encourage his brother. When he was told this; he replied “Lord I am ready to go with you to prison and to death”To which Jesus replied “ I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” Jesus was proven right and indeed Peter denied him.
Earlier on in the year I got such a warning from God He told me blessed is the one who does not take offense on my account.- I wanted something, in fact something like what I wanted came to me. But when I prayed asking if this was mine, I got the response that Christ gave to John the Baptist. Automatically I knew the answer was no but I did the very thing I was warned about. I took offense.Days after being told no, I counted the cost of what I lost by not getting the thing I wanted and I recall thinking and saying to the Lord “How can you do this to me?” I felt like God was taunting me and generally I felt wronged Unbeknownst unto me, I believed the lie that God did not want this thing for me, I believed he was being malicious because He was in position to give me what I really wanted but just chose to refuse with it.
This marked a period of praying without faith and gradually my prayer life was almost nonexistent but instead I couldn’t sleep, was medicating migraines almost daily, I was stressed and I felt fear- small things would live me in panic and to be honest I was getting physically sick- all because I took offense.God in his love arranged for me to attend a silent retreat – I was off phone, off social media, off people and still my head could not be still. It took 11 days of which I spent time praying and only then did I see myself- what a pitiful state I was in- angry, lost, entitled, afraid, desperate, I had put God in a box, thinking I knew what was best for me.
Tears, surrendering, peace, healing, learning truth and choosing to walk in trust and patience henceforth were the gifts I received. To know even in the wrong, I am loved, honored and precious in God’s sight just like Peter even when he did not heed to the warning that Christ still loved him. I caution myself to hear when a word is given. God knew and he told me – I truly wish I had listened, it would have saved me a lot of anguish. That said, I am now careful to hear, listen and heed to the warning, I still a fumble in some situations but I know all these will come to pass, and now I know I cannot do what I want to do by my own strength, I know all good and perfect gifts come from the Lord.
I pray as you read this God may open your eyes to see, ears to hear, and if you need to rest in Him then do, if you need to be patient then do, if you need to forgive then do, whatever you need God is able and He loves you.
Psalm 62:1-2 KJV Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Hosea 2:14. “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.15. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.16. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master. ’19. I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.20. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.23. I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.'” -NIV