3 Degrees Off Center

I am a pretty focused and driven person. I have shared before that I like to have a plan and see if carried out. I am getting better at recognizing that I need to give up MY plan and be open to following the plan GOD has for my life. The struggle I have with living out any plan is when Satan rears his nasty head and tries to distract me. He can be very subtle and he never has to make a big move, he only has to push me a little, and things start to fall apart pretty quickly.

Not to boast, but I am a pretty good person to have around in an emergency. I keep my wits about me, I can problem solve and think of solutions, I am good at keeping others calm. But when I begin to fall apart is when the little things go wrong; I'm sick, I'm tired, a vehicle is not working, a fight with my husband, someone ate the last Nutty Bar and now I do not have a sweet treat to pack in my lunch. Or the biggest tragedy of all... I am out of coffee!!! Oh, the horror!!! But seriously, it is in the small moments, the little things, the areas that are just 3 degrees off center, that can send my life into a tizzy.

And why do I let it happen over and over again?! I get so frustrated with myself! But then I remember that Satan's only goal is to mess with the lives of those that follow Christ. He has no other hobby or interest. He is wholly focused on making a mess of this world and bringing ciaos to the hearts of those that love Jesus. So really, I am not so special and unique. My sturggles are no greater than anyone else. Sure my 3 degrees off center may be different than yours but we each have our "sweet spot" and our "calamity central" zones. Once we realize that, accept it and begin to deal with it, we take away a little of the power Satan tries to hold over us. And when we lay it down at the feet of our LORD and let Him take care of it, we can be freed.

2 Samuel 7:28 says "O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant." God loves us and wants good things for us. I, for one, need to remember this passage and remind myself that when times get tough I need to turn to God's Word for strength against the forces of the one that tries to destroy all.

Or how about Psalm 36:5 "Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." And who better than Third Day to remind us of the beauty of this verse:



So..... What are the tings that get you 3 degrees off of center? How do you deal with them? Are you ready to lay them down at the feet of Jesus and walk away a free person? Are you finding your strength in the LORD? Do you feel secure in His love for you, so much so that you are able to fight off the attacks of the spirit that will surely come your way?

My prayer for today is that we are able to keep our eyes on the prize, a life with Jesus. I pray that when we are pushed 3 degrees off center that we remember to fall to our knees and call on the LORD to rescue us. I pray that we are able to recognize the ways Satan tries to distract us and by recognizing them we are able to give them up to God. I pray that our Heavenly Father will fill our hearts with love and peace so that we can share those very things with others.

Until We Meet Again,

Drea