There are days I feel like my eyeballs are going to get stuck in the back of my head. I’m convinced of it. I roll them so much (and so often) that I just know I’m going to scream out, “Terry! We have to go to the hospital! Preferably one with a neurosurgeon, because my eyeballs got stuck up in my brain, somewhere!”
These are the crazy things I think about when I wake up in the middle of the night. I think about something wacky, first; then roll my eyes. Then, because I’m half asleep anyway, I feel like my eyes roll too far back into my head and they won’t come back out front.
I know. I need help. But we can get to that, later.
Y’all. We as a people of God are not doing a very good job of doing what is good. And right.
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8 (NLT)
Our pastor always tells us, “When you don’t know what to do, do the next right thing.” He even had wristbands made with, “Do the next right thing,” that Terry and I wear. I’m starting to think I need to snap my wristband every time I want to give someone my opinion, for free.
Do the next right thing often means saying nothing.
I know. I find it hard to believe, as well, but I think that’s what God wants us to do. Sometimes when we are trying to figure out how to do the next right thing, the next right thing can be keeping our mouths shut. (Or our fingertips on the keyboard, still).
Getting into swearing debates with someone over politics? That’s not doing what is right.
Telling someone, “That’s B.S!” (Except not abbreviating it) is not loving mercy.
Ridiculing someone for their political opinion is not walking humbly with your God.
I can only start with me. So I will show you what it looks like to put your name into this scripture and pray this prayer when struggling: “No, Aimee, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Me, “But I want to tell them why I think their candidate is a creep, and why voting for him goes against scripture!”
The Holy Spirit, “No, Aimee. The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Me in prayer, “So calling them moronic … is that good?”
The Holy Spirit, “I’ll sit here while you figure that one out, for yourself.”
Me, still wrestling with God over this, “Okay, but come on. That candidate says he can just…”
Holy Spirit, “Aimee, I’m going to stop you. I heard what he said. What has the Lord told you what He requires of you?”
Me, “To tell all those people how evil and wrong they are for supporting him, and he’s evil and corrupt, and,”
Holy Spirit interrupting me, “Aimee. Seriously. When will you listen? Say it with me.”
Me, begrudgingly, “The Lord requires me to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.”
Holy Spirit, “You’re catching on. I knew you would.”
Me, “Okay, but can I tell them what a jerkface I think he...”Holy Spirit, “Aimee, I’m going to stop you again. What did we just say?”
Me, “Right. Let me try again. The Lord requires me to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.”
Holy Spirit, “There’s My girl. Are you doing what is right when you tell someone they are ignorant to vote for that guy?”
Me, “No.”
Holy Spirit, “Are you loving mercy when you lecture someone for not agreeing with you?”
Me, “Ouch. That kind of hurts. Could you not stand on my toes so hard?”
Holy Spirit, “I’m waiting on your answer.”
Me, “No. I’m not loving mercy when I lecture someone…”
Holy Spirit, “And are you walking humbly with your God when you refer to that candidate as a jerkface and calling other people moronic for supporting him?”
Me, “I see where You’re going with this, and You aren’t going to give me any wiggle room, are You?”
Holy Spirit, “No wiggle room on this. But I do love you.”
Me after sitting quietly for a minute, then realizing how wrong I am, “I’m so ashamed. Will You please forgive me and give me the strength I need to keep my mouth shut?”Holy Spirit, “Every single time.”
It’s hard, y’all. It’s so hard. But we need to strive to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. It’s what He requires of us.
And He does, in fact, give us the strength to keep our mouths shut (or fingers off the keyboard). We just have to accept His strength to do so.