Action --- Reaction

I'm too young to be important, but I don't forget what you tell me. Your righteousness is eternally right, your revelation is the only truth.  Even though troubles came down on me hard, your commands always gave me delight.  The way you tell me to live is always right; help me understand it so I can live to the fullest.
(Psalm 119:141-144 The Message)

Is there really an "age" when you are too "young" to be important?  Sometimes I think we "discount" our potential based on our chronological age!  God doesn't!  He sees potential in the words of a child just learning to speak and the aged who share from a vast wealth of accumulated knowledge.  The "potential" one has is really determined by the "yielded-ness" of one's spirit and heart.

Do we all have days when it seems like trouble is chasing us?  You bet!  There are days when I don't know if I have seen my tail coming or going because I have been chasing it so long I don't know the difference!  There are definitely times when trouble is chasing us.  We just cannot do much about this phenomena, except pull closer to Christ and ride "through" the trouble with him in control.  The more difficult times for us are when we are the ones chasing trouble!  This is a situation we can, and should, change!  

To chase trouble is simply unwise all the way around.  In order to break the cycle, we must recognize that we are in the cycle of chasing something unwise, unprofitable, or unkind!  It is likely unwise because of what the pursuit embodies - - selfish motives, impure outcomes, etc.  It is definitely unprofitable because of what if produces - - destroyed character, lost relationships, etc.  It is totally unkind because of its effect - - angry outbursts, wounding words, etc.  These troubles we CAN avoid - - but do we?

Living to the fullest is only possible when we get a handle on the things we are chasing!  We can do very little about what is chasing us, but we can learn how to respond to the chase!  When chased, do we allow the troubles to stop us in our tracks, surrendering to their influence, and just allowing ourselves to be taken in by the pressures of the trouble?  If so, we are playing the part of the victim.  God wants us to remember that we are not the victim, but the victor!

Police officers learn the tactical expertise of "the chase" - - going after the criminal in a skillful manner so as to "minimize" the potential for injury to bystanders.  Have you ever noticed the troubles that seem to chase us are not as skillful in "minimizing" the injury to innocent bystanders?  Why is this? Probably because we haven't learned how to avoid responding to the troubles chasing us by turning them over to God for him to deal with them!

We chase troubles, they don't just chase us - - but we can do much about what we allow our mind, spirit, and emotions to chase after, respond to, and be affected by.  It is equally important to allow God to prepare our minds for the troubles we will face with each new day - - some out of our control, others brought on because of our "lack of control".  Every response to trouble begins with the thought we attach to it.  If we attach the thought process to a troubling circumstance such as, "With God, all things are possible," then we are more likely to look for a solution instead of surrendering to what we may feel we have no control over.

Every thought leads to an action - - every action leads to a reaction.  Respond to trouble with the right action and the reaction will be positive!