“Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” Psalm 25: 4-5

Before I go into this post and share, I first want to say something. Whenever I am sharing something I am speaking to myself first. I have not arrived. I don’t have it all figured out. He is going to continue to purge, purify and refine me until the day of Jesus Christ. There are two scriptures here.

“Many will be purged, purified and refined; but the wicked will act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have Insight will understand.” Daniel 12:10

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

I speak about this subject in my first book a little bit but I go into much greater detail in the second one. It is called flipping it. The Lord taught me that in any situation where I find myself on the receiving end of something that I did not ask for, I did not want, I did not start it and I cannot stop it, to flip it. Instead of getting angry or trying to control the situation He told me to flip it. 

Usually when it would come it would be a situation that was absolutely horrible, frightening and overwhelming. So I would take all of this to Him and ask Him to give me back the very opposite of what I was receiving now. I would ask Him to turn it around into something amazing, wonderful and more than I ever could ask or imagine. Every single time that I found myself in that kind of a situation and asked Him to flip it, He did! I stand in amazement at how He works so miraculously.

I don’t know if this is a deeper level or a new understanding but this is what he has shown me recently. In any situation or circumstance that I find myself instantly being angry and afraid I am to stop and ask this question. What is the opportunity here? I have found that the circumstances or situation don’t matter. They are not part of what God wants to do. It is always about how I respond. That is what is most important. I cannot control what is coming at me but I can control how I respond to it. 

I’m going to share an example of me implementing this recently. I bought a new shower kit and I had someone install it for me in my upstairs bedroom. That took place about 9 years ago. I just discovered there are very large cracks appearing in the fiberglass walls. I’m now faced with having to replace my entire shower. My first response was anger, wanting to accuse the person who installed it. I was also angry thinking this must have been just a cheap shower kit. Fear then wanted to rise up. How will I ever pay for a new one? I thought in my mind it would be at least $1,000. When I went looking, boy was I wrong it’s double or triple that. 

So I spoke to myself and said, “No you are not going there.” I then said out loud, “Lord, what is the opportunity here?” The moment I asked that question I had a joy flood me. What came to me instantly was, I’m now in the Father’s will and He is pleased. He comes and is in our midst when we choose to make the right choice of looking at Him in all our circumstances. 

I found out right after that choice that I’m going to be given enough money that will cover the cost of the new shower. That was in the works before I even knew I would have to have a new one. But I did not find out until after I knew I would need a new one. There is an answer and solution to everything and He is always in control! I am so thankful for that. I am now excited to see what the opportunity is in this situation. 

With each instruction that He gives me and I do it the next one then seems a little easier to follow. 

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.” Psalm 18:30

I have found that if I will only stay in His good and perfect will my heart then remains in peace and joy. I will continue to have bad things come. I am not exempt from that just because I’m a follower of Jesus. But the most important thing is how I handle it. How I respond to it. I know I do not walk this out perfectly but I do have holy intention. The closer I get to Him the greater the peace in my soul and spirit man. It is hard to explain that peace and joy and that’s because it’s not of this world it is a supernatural thing. I cannot and I will not be able to do this apart from his power working in me. I have said this before and you all know the days are getting darker and harder. The enemy is fighting and throwing out everything he’s got to keep us from becoming children of God and walking that out. 

For about the last four or five years there is a verse that continues to come to me and it pertains to my handling situations correctly. 

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with the horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the jordan?”Jeremiah 12:5

I do not feel it is about the circumstances or situation but how we respond to it. That is going to determine our strength and fortitude to remain standing strong to the end. I personally want to be able to endure and receive the crown of life.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12

I want to encourage you the next time anger or fear starts rising in a situation, stop and say, “Lord, what is the opportunity here?”