Taking a Fresh Look at Something Familiar

Well, tonight I saw the whole verse in a different translation and it hit home. In the New King James Version, the first part of the verse reads “Be angry, and do not sin.” Over the years, like I said, I’ve seen it in devotionals, heard it in talks, read it in Bible Studies – but if my memory is correct, tonight is the first time I’ve seen the second part of the verse: “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.”

Maybe I’ve seen it before. Maybe it only stood out tonight because opening my eyes this morning brought a realization that I was frustrated, angry, and short-tempered … and I could find no identifiable cause, rhyme or reason as to why I was feeling that way. I never did figure out why; I just know it faded as the day progressed. Sadly, it doesn’t always turn out that way.

But now, having looked at multiple translations, at least I have some knowledge of what I need to do next time. Here are the recommendations I find in Scripture:
MSG translation: Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.
AMPC version: commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be silent (sorry for the things you say in your hearts.)
TPT version: Be still upon your bed and search your heart before him.
GNTD: Think deeply about this when you lie in silence on your beds.

Basically, it seems to come down to not doing anything, not even getting up, until I have examined my heart and talked openly to the Lord about it … and that “talking” should be in silence – just me and him and no one else. Which means I have to be open, honest, real … lay it all out without explanation or excuse, remembering that he can always handle my anger, frustration or just flat-out-bad-attitude-witchiness. And I have to be willing to admit my fault, once again surrendering my life and my will to him. You’d think by now I’d know how these episodes are going to work out and I could just cut to the chase and not even bother with all the other nonsense. So far, that hasn’t been the case.

But, hope springs eternal … so maybe one day soon, when I wake up in a funk, everything I wrote here will play across the video screen in my mind, my heart will change in an instant, and I will metaphorically leap right over the ugliness into absolute joyous surrender!

Well … a girl can always dream. For now, I’ll just keep trying to make it a straight and more easily traveled path from point A to point B – even that would be something to rejoice about!! Baby steps, people, baby steps …