Our Own Undoing
I've often spouted the phrase, "We can't always control what evil happens to us in this world, but we have complete control in how we respond." It's pretty much one of the fundamental mottoes in which I live by on a daily basis. It has helped me work through and overcome some really tragic incidences in my life and I'm grateful for it. When the world tried to annihilate me and destroy my self-esteem, it is the banner I waved above my head that gave me strength and led me to victory. I couldn't tell you how it materialized into the very fabric of my being, I only recognize its existence. I'm not smart enough to have created it; but I'm thankful it was revealed to me. This morning, however, I think I may have stumbled upon a part of its foundation.
I came across a Scripture that at first seemed innocuous, but my eyes kept drifting back to it. This is what I discovered:
Micah 2:1 - "Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds." This tells me that our actions start as thoughts, and then if nurtured turn into dreams (on their beds). Plans are not spontaneous, but are contemplated plots. No matter how much I wanted my abusers to choose something else, they continued to choose to hurt me. Their actions battled daily against my self-esteem and self-worth. The world judged me as unclean, unworthy and unlovable. Just as my abuser had the freedom to choose something else, to cast down those thoughts and change those dreams, they did not. Yet I was not completely without a choice of my own - the choice of how I was to respond, how I would allow their evil plots and actions to affect me and cause me to respond.
Micah 2:2 - "At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it." When it comes time to act out our plots, we have the power and freedom to carry them out. We all have been given free will. We have a choice to do evil or not. That's why evil is rampant in our world, because people who plot evil are free to carry their evil dreams out. It's not right; it's not fair, but it is how it is. Those of us who are victims of these evil plotters can't control the choices they make - only the choices we make for ourselves. My abuser ALWAYS had the choice not to act on their plans for me. I ALWAYS had the choice of my response.
Micah 2:3 - "Therefore the Lord says, 'I am planning disaster against this people.'" Just as evil plotters have the power to carry out their plans and dreams, God also has the power to carry out His own plots. By their choices and their decisions to act on them - these evil plotters released the Word, power and promises of God's wrath and judgment into their own lives. Without any action on my part, all those who've ever raised their hands against me to do harm and hurt me have succumbed to either death, disease or destruction. It reminds me of a scene in The Count of Monte Cristo where Edmond etches the phrase into the wall of his dungeon cell, "God will give me justice."
Micah 2:3 (cont'd) - "...from which you cannot save yourselves." Once the evil plot is set into motion (given life), the Lord's plans are also set in motion, and there's nothing the evil plotters can do to save themselves from the judgement and action to come. In essence - the evil plotter is the one who set his own destruction into action by this own will and deeds.
I pray mercy for those who have set their minds, plans and plots of evil against me or anyone else. They are set to destroy themselves. I suspect that 'themselves' are the last person they blame for their own destruction. Ultimately, we are our own undoing. I've learned to check myself first before I dare begin to point toward someone else, because I don't want to fall into the trap of setting evil plans and end up bringing about my own destruction.
These brings some other phrases to mind:
You will reap what you sow.What comes around, goes around. Do not return evil for evil, but repay evil with good - thereby heaping hot coals onto your adversary's head.Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
I came across a Scripture that at first seemed innocuous, but my eyes kept drifting back to it. This is what I discovered:
Micah 2:1 - "Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds." This tells me that our actions start as thoughts, and then if nurtured turn into dreams (on their beds). Plans are not spontaneous, but are contemplated plots. No matter how much I wanted my abusers to choose something else, they continued to choose to hurt me. Their actions battled daily against my self-esteem and self-worth. The world judged me as unclean, unworthy and unlovable. Just as my abuser had the freedom to choose something else, to cast down those thoughts and change those dreams, they did not. Yet I was not completely without a choice of my own - the choice of how I was to respond, how I would allow their evil plots and actions to affect me and cause me to respond.
Micah 2:2 - "At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it." When it comes time to act out our plots, we have the power and freedom to carry them out. We all have been given free will. We have a choice to do evil or not. That's why evil is rampant in our world, because people who plot evil are free to carry their evil dreams out. It's not right; it's not fair, but it is how it is. Those of us who are victims of these evil plotters can't control the choices they make - only the choices we make for ourselves. My abuser ALWAYS had the choice not to act on their plans for me. I ALWAYS had the choice of my response.
Micah 2:3 - "Therefore the Lord says, 'I am planning disaster against this people.'" Just as evil plotters have the power to carry out their plans and dreams, God also has the power to carry out His own plots. By their choices and their decisions to act on them - these evil plotters released the Word, power and promises of God's wrath and judgment into their own lives. Without any action on my part, all those who've ever raised their hands against me to do harm and hurt me have succumbed to either death, disease or destruction. It reminds me of a scene in The Count of Monte Cristo where Edmond etches the phrase into the wall of his dungeon cell, "God will give me justice."
Micah 2:3 (cont'd) - "...from which you cannot save yourselves." Once the evil plot is set into motion (given life), the Lord's plans are also set in motion, and there's nothing the evil plotters can do to save themselves from the judgement and action to come. In essence - the evil plotter is the one who set his own destruction into action by this own will and deeds.
I pray mercy for those who have set their minds, plans and plots of evil against me or anyone else. They are set to destroy themselves. I suspect that 'themselves' are the last person they blame for their own destruction. Ultimately, we are our own undoing. I've learned to check myself first before I dare begin to point toward someone else, because I don't want to fall into the trap of setting evil plans and end up bringing about my own destruction.
These brings some other phrases to mind:
You will reap what you sow.What comes around, goes around. Do not return evil for evil, but repay evil with good - thereby heaping hot coals onto your adversary's head.Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
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