God is teaching me a lesson in patience and holding my tongue lately. It takes a lot to actually make me angry. The other day I was extremely upset about something that took place. Some things were said in a setting that was completely inappropriate.

As angry as this situation made me I realized that it simply was not a battle that I needed to take upon myself; I chose not to say anything even though I did not agree with what took place. In one of the classes that I took last semester my professors said "learn to choose your battles". This is something that has stuck with me. It reminds me of my parents always telling me to "think before you speak". (that is also something that I am working on.. some pretty silly things come out of my mouth sometimes.)

I'm learning to ask myself a few questions before reacting to situations:

1. What are my motives?
2. Is it necessary to potentially cause conflict?
3. Will this be edifying to myself and/or to others?
4. Will anything be solved?

Remember

God has been placing the word "REMEMBER" on my heart lately. It isn't always easy to think about the past, but that is exactly what God has been calling me to do. God has been calling me to dig up the exact things that I have chosen to forget.

For the past few years I have been seeking God and His will for my life with all that I am. What God is showing me is that no matter how much I grow in the Lord I need to remember where I used to be. I need to remember the hurt, the emptiness, the hopelessness, the longing for something more. I need to remember times like being lukewarm and stagnant in my walk. God is showing me that I have nothing to be ashamed of. The person that God wants me to remember is who I was, not who I am.

There are people in the world today in the exact place or situation that I came out of. God loves those people too. He wants those people to take hold of eternity just like so many others have.

It is time to REMEMBER what we have chosen to forget.

So many people think that walking with the Lord is easy; that life should be perfect once you ask the Lord to come into your heart. Matthew 7:13-14 says in so many words that this is not necessarily true.

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

Growing up my father was a pastor. When I would go to church people in the congregation would watch me just waiting for me to mess up. The minute I did something that didn't fit into their perfect picture of how the pastors daughter should act they would go running to tell one of my parents about my "screw up". This is how the world is in many ways too. When people find out you claim to be a christian they watch how you dress, conduct yourself, and what you say. They justify what they do by what you do.

Sometimes the world may seem more appealing, mainly because it seems like an easier path. It is also a lonely path with no purpose. I can say this because I have tried it. There are many different roads to the world. That is why the way of the world is so easy. It is easy to choose the road of alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. Sadly many people choose the roads of the world. This all represents the wide gate.

The narrow gate is the path that is less chosen. It is the path of the Lord. The reason this is called the narrow gate is because there is only one way to eternal life. Eternal life is offered to everyone, but few actually take hold of this free gift.

I have made the decision to take the narrow gate. I find my identity in the Lord. With the Lord I am made whole.

Which gate do you choose?