Much of our
productivity time is wasted on unproductive conflicts. When we’re not
intentional about the battles we fight every day, we can easily be sucked into
minor things that drain major energy out of us.
Every day when we
wake up, God gives us fresh energy, enthusiasm, faith and courage for that day.
They don’t come in unlimited supplies because God wants us to trust Him in a
fresh new way every day. When we depart from the purpose God put in our heart
each day, we can run around in circles without making an impact. God wants us to be effective and productive
with our emotional resources. If we’re getting frustrated, angry, and
jealous and pouting over small things, we will not be prepared for a real
battle that counts. What battle we pick will determine how big of a giant-slayer
we will be.
At home it is easy
to get frustrated about kids leaving their dirty socks in the middle of the
living room. We can easily get upset if the lights are not turned off or a
drawer is left open and the key to the car is always missing. It is easy to nag
about the messy closet. It’s doesn’t take much to complain about the traffic. At
work, we can be upset about the boss, incomplete project or false accusation.
But really, in the big scheme of life, none of this matter. Peace, joy and harmony in the house is much
more valuable than paying $10 extra for lights left on. It is better to
just shut the drawer close than to make a big deal about it. A house where
there is love, respect, honor and laughter is much more valuable than a sparkling
clean house with full of strife. Pick your battle wisely so that you can enjoy
the peace and tranquility in life.
Before we get all bent out of shape
over a minor issue we should always consider how it affects our destiny and of
others. If it’s a five
minute problem, ignore it. If it’s a fiver hour problem, take note of it. If it’s
a five year problem, invest time, effort and energy to fix it. I spent my whole
life fighting small battles and it kept me from my destiny. Since I’ve learnt
to choose my battles wisely, I have more energy and efficiency left to win the
war. The more I let go of the small stuff the more God promotes me to bigger
destiny.
In the Bible, when
David was wondering around as a guerilla fighter, his men were protecting a
rich man’s herd by the name of Nabal. In David’s time of need he sent for his
messengers to request Nabal for help and give David and his men whatever he
could for food and drink. Nabal means fool. He insulted David’s messengers and
sent them back empty-handed. When David heard Nabal’s response, he was furious.
He took four hundred men and set out on a vengeance to kill Nabal and all his
men. In the meantime, Nabal’s wife Abigail heard from her servants how her
husband had insulted David. Being smart, witty and long-sighted, she got on her
horse with food, wine and supplies and met David on the way. Immediately she
fell on her face, addressed David as Lord and calmed his anger. She then reminded David of his destiny as
the King of Israel. Abigail brought sense to David and helped him to cease
from anger and choose his battle wisely. Later, Nabal died and Abigail became
David’s wife. (I Samuel 25). What’s the point of this story? Choose your battle
wisely. David could have easily overrun Nabal and his men but that would have
kept him from fulfilling his destiny as the King of Israel.
Friend, you can give
people a piece of your mind and dish out evil for evil. It will make your flesh
feel good, your ego get bigger but it will rob you of your destiny. Don’t be a
fool like Nabal and say what you think or feel like doing. Think before you act. Choose your battles wisely. Peace is better than being
right and winning arguments. Fight battles that will bring you spoils of war.
Fight for your marriage. Fight for your children. Fight for your family. Fight
for a just cause. Fight for world missions. Give up the low life. You don’t
have to answer to every critic and win every argument. Be a bigger person. Take
the high road. Choose your battle wisely.
“Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control
than to conquer a city” (Proverbs 16:32
NLT).
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