OVERWHELMED!

After leaving the appointment and getting into our car, I confessed that I felt overwhelmed.

It’s not how the day had gone up to that point. The day had been good. Even going into the appointment, we’d prayed and had peace. At the beginning of the appointment, the doctor said it wasn’t his job to sway us in any treatment direction, but only to give us information.

And he did! Much more than any other doctor had given us. When we left, we had a plan for next steps…but… But it wasn’t the next step we were hoping to hear. Instead of getting quickly to the end of the season – like in Chutes and Ladders, where landing on a ladder advances you more quickly to the end of the game – we found out that a lot of steps had been missed, and now we needed to slow down and investigate those details. That’s why I was overwhelmed.

Of course, the enemy was quick to encourage that feeling. He also reminded me of the unfavorable effects of a prolonged season.

But Holy Spirit squashed him! He reminded me that I have NOT been given a spirit of fear! He said I can choose fear, or I can choose to not fear.

The other night, as I was tucking our girls into bed, one of them had a bad attitude. I had both girls say the Fruit of the Spirit with me. I reminded them that because we have Holy Spirit, we always have the choice to walk in the fruit of His Spirit or walk in opposition.

Holy Spirit reminded me that I can walk in fear, worry, and panic – or – I can walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The choice is mine, just as it is yours. Which would you choose?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP