Day 22 – Stubbornness

“The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes, but a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel. The [arrogant] fool’s anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense], but a prudent man ignores an insult.” Proverbs 12:15-16

I sometimes wonder: What was God thinking when He gave us our own free will? Being submissive would have been so much easier without it, but then we would not have known the deep joy of the approval of the Almighty when we choose to submit and get all the reward that goes with it. Being stubborn is like hurting yourself on purpose, being like a horse which needs a bridle and a fool without insight, because letting go of your own understanding and insights and accepting those of God, which encompasses all knowledge from eternity to eternity, is what causes us to be free and keep out of pitfalls and live lives of excellence in all circumstances. Being willing to accept a new mindset, new circumstances, and a new road to travel on, whether expected or unexpected, is what makes life turn into an adventure, instead of a butting of heads with our Creator…

Prayer: Lord, we always thought we knew best, but now, knowing that our knowledge is so limited and having experienced first-hand how much trouble our own insights can land us, we have decided to submit to You, to let go of our set ways and traditions and accept and walk on the new ways that You make in the wilderness. Lord, bless our new intention with endurance, so that we can obtain the fullness of what You have planned. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Written by Anna-Mart Nel for www.womenoftheword.co.za