“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Waiting For Them To Leave
They’re still here. I have been waiting for them to leave for weeks now, but they just keep coming back. I’m talking about the grackles at my bird feeders which haven’t had food in them for the aforementioned weeks to try and convince those persistent, big, black birds to move on permanently, alas with no success. Not only do they swoop in and consume all the birdseed, they also keep the little, pretty birds from visiting. For one (me), who loves bird watching, this situation is discouraging!
I’ve been waiting for something else to leave too. Not just for weeks though, but rather for years and yet, they just keep coming back. I’m talking about big, dark, anxious thoughts. I try my best not to provide “food for thought” in the hope they won’t linger long. It seems to work for a while but then, they plunge right back in devouring my peace of mind while keeping the “Still Small Voice” at bay. For one (me and maybe you, too), who loves Christ, this situation is discouraging!
I know there’s nothing I can do to keep the grackles from coming around. There’s also nothing I can do about unwanted thoughts from invading my nights….nothing on my own that is.
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying pray. Let Petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)
These days I try not to look out at the empty feeders but when I hear the familiar squawk of hungry grackles I rush to the window to scare them away. Maybe one day they’ll get the message and move on.
I’m using the same technique with those pesky middle of the night worries. When I recognize their presence instead of as I like to say, rehearsing disaster, letting one distressing thought lead to another, I’ve instead begun to immediately rush to God to pray them away. Maybe one day MY little mind will get the message and the fears and anxious thoughts will move on for good!
Until then, just as I’m picky about the birds that I feed, I’ll continue to be selective in the thoughts I entertain too:
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
For one (me and maybe you, too) who loves Christ, fixing our thoughts on such things takes discouraging to encouraging; anxiety to peace. It’s wonderful when “Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Let’s leave it all with Him.
So, the lesson for us today? Simply remember this: worrying is “for the birds!”
(Sorry, I couldn’t resist)
So much truth packed in here! And by the way, I dislike those grackles and their aggressive behavior, too!
Oh me too Donna! Even as I sat here this morning I saw a nuthatch and downy woodpecker come to the tree where my empty feeders are. They are the first I’ve had in so long. About as quickly as the thought came to me to put some seed out, there flew in a grackle! Sooooo frustrating! (Just like my pesky fearful thoughts!) Thank you so much for taking your time to stop in. It means a lot to me!
Excellent post, Cindy. As you say, there is something we can do about the dark invasion of worries – we can pray them into God’s care and remind ourselves of all of His promises and His faithfulness. Thank you for this. Bless you.
Thank you for your kind words Dawn. I have two places of trouble…my bed at night and when I’m traveling alone in my car. Now when those fearful thoughts invade, I’m trying to pray right away to combat them. I’m a work in progress but as you say, God is faithful!! I appreciate you stopping in!
I love the analogy of pesky grackels and dark thoughts that can haunt us at the most unexpected times.
After weeks of battling those persistent birds, the Holy Spirit reminded me that my thoughts were just like them. Not sure why it took me so long to make the connection! 🤪Thank you or taking time to comment. I appreciate it!