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Scripture
The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
1 Kings 3:26
Reflection
The first mother loved her son unconditionally. Her true love for him meant that she would never do anything to hurt him. She would rather lose him, let him go, than see him hurt. The other woman only saw him as a possession, never loving or caring for him genuinely, which meant that she could care less about what happened to him. If she couldn’t have him, no one would, and she was willing to cut the baby in half instead of letting him go. How twisted is that?
This story can be seen played out in our daily lives, in different ways, from the busiest of cities to the most remote lands, with the wealthy and the destitute.
How often have we read or seen stories of people so outraged about losing their significant other that they killed them so no other person could have them? Some people take rejection as a coffin nail, a sign of a time when all will end, and they cling to their false reality of a perfectly designed life based on their terms to fulfill only their needs. It’s selfishness, and it’s not of God.
What about the person who wanted the big promotion and then realized it was going to a colleague. Instead of accepting this and bowing out gracefully, they sabotaged the other person’s career or a chance at that position? As though somehow there will be a reconsideration of the decision, and they will finally receive what they believe is due to them.
A sense of entitlement mixed with jealousy is a toxic concoction.
A couple decides to break up, and instead of letting the estranged wife have the sofa they both loved, the husband throws it away, sells it, or destroys it. Think of the countless times we have seen husbands try everything in their power to leave their estranged wives penniless and destitute as punishment for not complying with their wishes and instead seeking to leave them through a divorce. How many wives have we seen try to punish their husbands in court in hopes of stripping them of their wealth and dignity, so he can feel the pain she feels from his betrayal of her?
How many cars and houses have we seen blazing with fire because someone refused to let another person have them. Sound crazy? Sure it does, but every day someone in this big world is reacting just like the crazed woman in the Bible passage above. We are blinded by our emotions. We are playing into the hands of the enemy, not realizing that we’ve walked into his circus, his amusement park, designed for his pleasure and our demise. We are gambling with our souls and don’t realize it.
Our selfishness and self-centeredness blind us from seeing God’s Truth and His plan for us. The enemy studies us and finds out what we covet and fear, and then he plays around with this knowledge, manipulating and tempting us to fall into one of his pits. He can’t make us do it. We have to choose. So his enticement is over-the-top and extreme, and because our discernment isn’t fine-tuned, we don’t see the red flags warning us to abort the mission, about-face, and get back to where God wants us. That jealousy, envy, rage, and extreme fear are all tricks and traps set by the enemy. He can’t make you give in. He can’t force you to do anything. You choose.
We must learn to listen for and respond to God’s Voice above all others. We must learn to let go of the “baby” if we truly love it and patiently wait for God to bring us our own to love and nurture. We must learn to let go of people we claim we love, promotions and jobs we think we need, and worldly possessions we’ve convinced ourselves we can’t live without—and instead, walk with the LORD and wait for Him to bless us with what is intended for us!
Some things are meant to be with us for a reason or a season, to prepare us for better or different. But we’re so hellbent on holding on like they’re intended to be with us for a lifetime that we sometimes risk our souls in the process. When we hurt and then choose to hurt others, that is never the way of God, but sadly it’s the enemy’s way. We’ve chosen to suit up in his uniform and discard God’s jersey. You better know whose team you’re on!
People are not possessions. You have no right to control, enslave, hold on to, or harass them. Those actions and that mindset are rooted in fear, not love. Your home, vehicle, jewelry, accessories, boat, and anything else you can acquire using money, are all temporary possessions. Stop putting so much value on them that they become idols of worship. Lastly, don’t let the tool of money warp your mind and heart to serve it. When money becomes your god, you have to know that the enemy is pulling your strings and you’re allowing it to happen. Cut those strings and cling to God.
Prayer
Father, because of You I know true love, have shared true love, and I know what it feels to be loved. Every day I strive to share and express Your Love, and I hope that I am making myself more accessible to receive love from others. Your Love is truly unconditional, and that is what every person should hope to give and receive—unconditional, untainted, unfiltered— love.
When fear creeps inside my mind and heart, and makes me want to close myself off and put up ‘walls’ I ask that You help me see the lies so that I can flush them out. I want to force fear out, empowered by Your Love and Truth, so that I can embrace what is real, and that is, all is well, and You are always with me, protecting and caring for me. I never want to give fear any power. Doing so would be disrespectful to You and our relationship. Fear has no power in Your domain so it has no place in my presence. In Your Name I praise and pray. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
I love you!
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2023. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Music: Climb by Shane Ivers; Quiescent In Time by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
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