Wellness Series
Health is acting assertively, not
passively or aggressively1.
Let’s look at the meaning of each word
before we proceed with our soul conversation.
To act assertively means to behave confidently and not afraid to say
what you want or believe. To act passively
means to allow other people to be in control to influence or change a
situation. To act aggressively means to behave
in an angry and violent way towards another person; or to use forceful action
to achieve victory or success.
As a woman, I cannot count anymore how
many times I am accused of being “too know” (proud in approach) about certain
methods I support in the practice of teaching, my predestined profession and
ministry. If a woman stands firm in her beliefs and expresses them confidently
without fear for the good of educating young minds, why is she not given the
same accolades as a man who expresses the same ideas in the same manner?
But God has chosen the
foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the
weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty (1 Corinthians
1:27).
 |
| Moses' "rod", backed by the power of God, became the "road" to freedom! |
While Moses stood passively at the
edge of the Jordan River with the Egyptian enemy aggressively pursuing the
people of Israel from the rear, the Lord said to Moses, “Why do
you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” I
could hear Moses asking the Lord, “Go where, into the sea and die?” God used a “foolish thing”—the rod in Moses’
hand: But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand
over the sea and divide it. And the
children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea (Exodus 14:15-16).
Now Moses had used that rod countless
times in the presence of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, to work signs and
wonders. But at the point of panic, he
forgot the power he was holding in his own hand. Yes, at times, life can be so overwhelming
that, even the encourager and the leader of a people, can lose confidence. When this happens, we fall into a passive
state and use God as an excuse: “Well, God is in control, so let’s pray that all
will work out, because the Bible says all things will work out for good to
those who love the Lord.”
And who’s to blame if things don’t work
out well? Passive Christians shift all
things, good and bad, on God when God emphatically promises His children that I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace and
not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
You are to blame when passivity kicks in and you do nothing to influence
or change a situation, but are ever ready to point your one finger to accuse
while ignoring the three fingers pointing back at you. Those three fingers represent God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
righteously rebuking you for forgetting (or for choosing to ignore) who you are
in Christ.
Dear Christian, even unbelievers
profess: “God helps those who help themselves.”
The Lord replied to Moses: “Use what’s in your hand to be well (safe,
free from the wrath of the Egyptians).” What’s
in your hand? Again, this refers
to your one thing. Don’t look at your one thing as foolish by
human opinion. Look at your one thing as
“the wisdom of God” which can save you, your household, workplace, community,
church, or nation. Then assertively use
it to get the results you desire—peace (wellness) and not of evil.
The Egyptians were aggressive in going
after the Israelites because they wanted their workforce of slaves back. When the leaders realized they would have to
hire and pay for the labor the Israelites did without pay, they could foresee
economic hardship for their nation. The
pursuit of money should never be an excuse for violence against other
people. Yet, today, a man can kill
another for the love of his money.
 |
| When David took a step forward, his "stone", backed by the power of God, became a bullet! |
When God chose the “weak thing” in
young David to overthrow the mighty Goliath, even the army of the Lord laughed
at the notion. But David, in bold
confidence, spoke what he believed (1 Samuel 17), took the “foolish thing” that
was in his hand and threw it right between the eyes of that giant knocking him
out cold on the ground, then cut off his head with his own sword.
Take a good long look in the mirror,
beloved, and watch that spirit of passivity vanishing from within you. Then see God’s power being placed into your
hands and filling you up with His confidence to conquer that ‘giant’ in your
life. You are God’s workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that you
should walk—go forward—in them, assertively.
 |
| What are you holding in your hand? Backed by God, assertively wield it to wellness! |
Do not fear the ‘wisdom of men’, but
go forward doing your one thing with confidence—being certain of your ability,
or talent(s). God gave it to you, so
you cannot fail. And, when you use it
assertively, it will make you well.
© 2020 by Patience
Osei-Anyamesem. All rights reserved.
Published by The Liight In Me Enterprise. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any
other—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in
printed reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Unless otherwise
stated, all scripture quotations are from The New King James Version. Copyright
© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
Paintings retrieved
from Black Art search engine.
1. Travis, J. (1977). The Wellness Workbook. Mill Valley, CA, USA: Wellness Resource
Center.
Take My Hand Inspirations
No comments:
Post a Comment