Keep It To Yourself - Lisa U Maki
It is human nature, especially for women, to ask so many questions. Women try to understand and analyze everything. They want an explanation to every single thing that happens. This is the reason why it is not easy for us to just brush off a thought or to shut our mouths up. This is also the reason why our thoughts sink fast into our hearts, creating mayhem of emotions.
Albeit this is our nature, we still can't disobey what God says in His Word. He instructed us to (1) guard our hearts and keep it with vigilance for out of it flow the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). He also told us to (2) be slow to speak, quick to hear, and slow to get angry (James 1:19). God also commanded us, women, to (3) clothe ourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and QUIET SPIRIT which is so precious to God (1 Peter 3:4). Furthermore, He told us to (4) refute arguments and theories and reasonings... and we lead every thought captive into the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4).
Looking at all these verses, it is pretty obvious that although God understands the nature of women, He still doesn't want us to talk too much. Of course He knows that women find relief just by expressing themselves, which is why He is there for us. Jesus wants us to open up to Him, to vent out to Him, to express our feelings and thoughts to Him. Does this mean that He doesn't want us to open up to our spouses, our family, or our friends? Not really... but He wants us to be careful as to who to talk to and what to say; whereas with Him, we are free to say anything.
There is a lot of wisdom on this, actually. First, we tend to be very reactive. We say things that we feel at the moment. When we do this, we lose our objectivity about the situation. Second, the Word says that "death and life are in the power of the tongue". If we always say what we feel like saying, then we may be releasing words into the atmosphere and which are meant by the enemy to destroy us. Third, the devil can't read our thoughts so he is always waiting for us to say something so he will know what is going on... then he attacks us. Fourth, sharing our disappointments to others about other people may lead to gossip, which God doesn't want. Fifth, what defiles us is what comes out of our mouth. Sixth, sharing our thoughts to others may pre-empt what God is trying to do. It can also expose us to negative reactions from others that are meant to destroy the vision that God has given us.
Mary is the ultimate example of a woman who had a quiet spirit and who kept things to herself. Can you imagine how she felt when the angel Gabriel appeared to her to tell her the news that she was going to conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God? I mean, how can a girl her age even fathom such an announcement? Yet she chose to be quiet and submit to God's perfect will, though she didn't fully understand. Luke 2:11 says... But Mary was keeping within herself all these things, weighing and pondering them in her heart.
Did you read that??? She kept things within herself which means that she never discussed it with anyone. She weighed things, meaning she exercised discernment. She pondered everything in her heart, meaning she "carefully" thought about things. She had mixed thoughts and emotions: gratefulness for the favor upon her, yet fear of more oppositions; excitement about her new role as mother, yet confusion as to what will really happen; understanding of her calling, yet more questions about what is to come.
She could have announced excitedly to everyone about what God said about her Son, Jesus. She could have complained to God. All these things were going on inside her. Yet she chose to be still. She didn't want to react wrongfully. Mary chose to submit all her emotions, thoughts, and feelings to God.
What a character!
All throughout Jesus' life, Mary just kept and guarded things in her heart. She must have felt hurt so many times... yet she chose to submit to God's will. When she looked for Jesus for three days, when Jesus was 12, she told Him, when they finally found Him...
Child, why have You treated us like this? Here Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You (distressed and tormented). And He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father's house and about My Father's business? But they did not comprehend what He was saying to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was (habitually) obedient to them; and His mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart (Luke 2:48-51).
And then there was the wedding at Cana.
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus was also invited with His disciples to the wedding. And when the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no more wine! Jesus said to her, (Dear) woman, what is that to you and to Me? (What have we in common? Leave it to Me.) My time (hour to act) has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it (John 2:1-5).
Can you imagine your son saying these words to you? How would you feel?
Mary's son was her Savior. She knew it but she couldn't grasp so well. She carried this man in her arms. She nursed Him. Now, He is her Lord. And how about during Jesus' death?
And by the cross of Jesus stood His mother (Jn. 19:25)...
What do you think did Mary feel?
There was her son, the son whom she nurtured... now He is on the cross, dying. And she couldn't do anything. This was the day that she was waiting for... the day that she was waiting for in anticipation and fear at the same time... joy for the salvation of man, grief for the death of her son. Tell me... what can be more difficult for a mother than to see her child die?
Mary knew that she was just a steward. Yet, it was not easy to accept. But, she still kept everything in her heart and simply submitted and obeyed.
This is the example that Mary set and which God wants from us too. Just like her, we don't have to understand everything nor tell others what we are going through. We don't have to express everything we feel. We have to learn to keep things between ourselves and God.
In doing so, here is what God promised us...
"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
(Isaiah 30:15)
Lisa Maki is the founder of God'z Gurlz, a Bible-based online magazine for women whose mission is to is to provide a place where women can learn to manage their emotions, experience healing, receive love and acceptance, be free to be who God made them to be, and be the best they can be in their homes, schools, professions, relationships, and calling, through sharing of insights and experiences, counseling, prayer, and devotionals, thereby learning from and supporting each other. For more of Lisa's articles, visit http://godzgurlz.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_U_Maki Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6918335