In a world full of conflict, I feel the need to remind you of a simple lesson.
It is a lesson that I was taught several years ago by a very, very wise, loving person who saw the need to protect me...even from myself!
"LEARN TO PICK YOUR BATTLES.
... DON'T LET THEM PICK YOU! "
See Reader, recognize that we live in a world full of billions of people who think differently, who want different things and have different ways of going about them. All those people, each with their own personality ( Some have more than one!) missed in with different cultural groups, different life principles and family teachings and we are all supposed to figure out how to deal with each other without losing ourselves in the process. Conflict is always and has always been inevitable. So, the thing is, if you are open to every ( E..V..E..R ..Y) battle that comes your way, you will also inevitably wear yourself down!
The greatest warriors in history were masters at picking their battles! They were master Strategists on war tactics. They understood proper positioning of their soldiers against the enemy was important. They understood the strengths, the weaknesses and abilities of their soldiers and how they could best be utilized. Remember now, the battles fought were also fought with the thought of self preservation. Everybody could not afford to get wiped out! The war and battle leaders needed to ensure that when victory was won, that they still had a healthy, right minded army available. They needed them available to protect the kingdoms and to be ready and able to fight in future battles!
Inside of those war tactics, strategy, they understood also that the strength of the soldiers played a vital part in accomplishing victory. Soldiers are often switched out and relieved while other soldier s took their place for awhile. Rest for them was absolutely vital as well! Usually, war and battle leaders used the wisdom of strategy of knowing which battles to fight. War and battle leaders understand that conflict and battles are here to stay, as long as there are people on the planet, cause somebody is always gonna want what somebody else has! Somebody is always going to seek control of others! Somebody always wants to think themselves better than others seeking to prove somebody else less of a person! Somebody always wants to be right!
The issues of conflict are as old as the world is! Battle leaders knew it then as they know it now. This also includes those of us who are wise and paying attention! By the way, all of us are battle fighters, as we all have to deal with conflict at times in our lives. That's inevitable too! Because somebody is going to want something from you too that you are not willing to give them even on the level of life that you are, wherever that is! It's not always the rich and powerful who have conflict! Most of us face conflict with somebody several times a week. Others face it several times a day! Even children on the playground! So, what are you thinking?
Whether it be your attention, your possessions, your support that they seek. Conflict is sure to show up even it the issues concerns your affection, your happiness, your friendship, your mate or child. It seeks submission, control of you, even your peace of mind!... Whatever the thing is that they seek, that you are not willing to give!
Battles even arise in situations over your joy, because misery LOVES company! It loves it so much it will use & manipulate your co-workers, your boss, strangers, Preachers and regular congregants. It will use family members including your wife, your husband and children and grand children! Evil, is what misery eludes too because of it's destructiveness, doesn't care "whom it may devour" in the process! Not even you who gave it a foothold in the first place!
Conflict, battles...you have faced them and will continue to as long as you live. And I hope you live long! So, you have to understand the strategy of not letting those battles pick you, wearing you thin. If you let yourself be worn thin, you won't have the much needed strength to be ready for the REAL WAR when it is waged against you!
War leaders know you can't have your soldiers fighting all the time, exhausting them, exhausting finances, supplies, support alliances and exhausting energy unnecessarily. War leaders themselves needed rest in order to be spiritually, physically and mentally sharp as well! They also knew that part of an enemies strategy was causing Some "minor' battles or uprisings to distract their opponent, wear them thin so they could then go int for the kill. Therefore, the most effective war leaders had to know, which battles fight! They profoundly understood the utter importance of picking their battles instead of letting their battles pick them!
So, for your own sake, self-preservation and peace of mind...
You HAVE TO LEARN
which battles are worth fighting!
*Do you know the purpose of the battle you are thinking of engaging in?
*Weigh the benefits, the pros and cons.
*What will it solve if you fought this battle?
*Investigate what is really at stake?
*Know why you are fighting that battle!
*Understand what is the end result.
*What is stood to be gained by you,
by the people who are egging you on to engage!
Think about that person or those people.
What is their motivation? Consider that many of us wouldn't take on or even initiate certain battles if certain people weren't whispering in our ears!
If that person is you, you will undoubtedly do yourself great justice in questioning your own motives before you get yourself or someone else for that matter, in a battle where loss is not prepared for or can be accepted.
And be careful who you challenge in these battles because
you may not really know how they will respond! See, when people are pushed they tend to push back alot harder than you anticipated.
So, be careful of yourself and what battles you initiate and take on!
Reader,
for your own benefit I've taken this time to show you what some loving person, concerned about me, took time to teach me. Also trust that I have had moments of being challenged too! Serious moments where I WAS READY FOR A FIGHT ...only to have wisdom intercede. It brought discernment with it. It showed me some truths to focus on. Wisdom reached out, shook me, even collapsed me to my knees while it spoke that certain battles are not mine to fight. In such moments, it has even taken me to the point where I have literally cried out in victory, with strength renewed. I take to heart moments like those, allowing Wisdom to prevail. I have learned to pick my fights, not letting them pick me. By doing so, I am assured to be strong and ready when the REAL battles of life come again to wage against me.
Because Reader, there will always be another one to fight!
Wanting the best for you, Dear Reader
Meetta
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