Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Victory Comes by Being Me


Don’t waste your life trying to fit into a “gift box” that feels too big or too small. Your God-given gift perfectly fits your personality and is your purpose and position to win victory.

My Prince Will Come
by Sheri Rose Shepherd

People tell me I think too much.

It's true. I spend inordinate amounts of time mulling over anything and everything. I ask questions ad nauseam, ignoring tasks I should attend to. I lay awake at night trying to figure out why God does what He does. I stare out the window, my mind chewing on thoughts and ideas, struggling to reconcile their importance in the grand scheme of life. Instead of accepting His plan, I ask God "WHY?" too much and kick myself for wasting time on matters only He can solve.

I read and think, listen and think, shower and think, drive and think, cook and think, sing and think, sit and think.

Never mind that others tell me to quit thinking too hard and overanalyzing things. Even I tell myself, "Golly, Tam, give it a rest!! Move on, girl!!" The practical side of me says I'm wasting time and energy.

Yet when I try to stop thinking so hard, I don't feel right. When life robs my time to ponder, I feel tense and agitated. My spirit gets anxious and I get crabby. Why?

Could it be God created me to be a contemplative person? Is it better to roll with it than squash it? So what if I lose a little sleep rising before my family does just to have thinking time? So what if the time spent does not produce answers?

When I reflect over my life (yes, I realize the irony in what I just said), I see the thoughts and questions I "waste" time on have caused me to seek God more fervently. My meditative nature brings me to the throne of Almighty God. I win. Big time. Yes, Satan can twist it and tempt me to dwell on things I shouldn't, but denying this part of me steals the very quality which keeps me coming to Jesus.

What unique quality has God placed in you? Don't fight it. How does God use it to mold you into His design for you? How can your gift bring you victory?


Join today's host, Debbie, at Chocolate and Coffee for more interpretations of this quote.



Photo Credit: gutter

6 comments:

Miriam Pauline said...

Oh, I like this! I'm thankful God made you contemplative...and made you a writer....because I get to benefit from your "thinking too much." Good post, my friend.

Debbie Petras said...

Tami, I always look forward to your posts on IOWT. I had to laugh because my husband and I were just talking about my mulling. The word is one I don't often use but it somehow came up in our conversation. Greg will often ask my opinion and I don't always like to give my first impression. I have to mull it over first. LOL.

It can actually be fun discovering who God created us to be. We each have unique quirks and you're right. Maybe that's just how He made us. :)

Blessings,
Debbie

Nic said...

My meditative nature brings me to the throne of Almighty God. I win. Big time.

And that is exactly it! Those who are comtemplative in nature have several benefits.
-Time with God.
-Being less prone to rush into something or make a rash decision, neither of which is in the best interest of the person or their friends and family.
-Figuring out that last detail to make something fall in to place.
-Being the "go to" person when someone has a situation they just can't come up with a solution to on their own b/c they're not as well versed in thinking and being contemplative.
-Thinking out something that saves time and effort in coming up with a better way to handle something with less mistakes instead of just starting it and "taking the long way about it".

And so forth and so on.

Tami, it is definitely a gift that you have and one that I wish I had a better grasp of!

As darling MiPa said earlier, we reap the benefits of your "thinking too much" - and I love it!

Claudia said...

It is interesting that we find the words "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things" just a few verses after one of the most-oft repeated verses of scripture: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

God calls us to think in a manner that brings him glory. When what you think leads you to the throne of God, you are blessed, and so are we.

Denise J. Hughes said...

"I read and think, listen and think, shower and think, drive and think, cook and think, sing and think, sit and think."

I love, love, LOVE this! I can so picture this about you too! And I can relate. In fact, since my recent note to you, I haven't been able to stop thinking about everything I wrote. It seems so strange to try and see my circumstances through another person's eyes. It has made me go to the Father and ask for His wisdom. Perhaps there is something God is stirring in me that I need to share with others. I am a lover of Truth, and I always want to proclaim it everywhere I go.

Thank you for sharing. I do appreciate your contemplative nature.

annies home said...

your post is so great I know exactly what you are saying as I am a bit thinker as well. May our thoughts always be filled with Gods love and know the what ifs, how comes or other questions that satan plots in our thoughts