Author: Kim Petitt

As a person living with a disability challenge is part of my life. I struggled with my identity and I recognize that I still have insecurities to face, but that doesn't mean I can't walk in everything God has purposed me to walk in despite my insecurities. Because of the nature of my condition and physical disability, God's grace is evident in my life everyday and I find strength in the word of God that says in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who gives me power". (CJB).

Bored?

Posted on by Kim Petitt
Young woman lying buried her face in sofa feels tired

With the stay at home mandate from the government many of you have found yourself bored. You wake up, eat, watch TV, scroll social media, then go to bed. Boredom has set in for many people across the globe. Your daily routine is different, but overall each day is just flat out boring.

You are drifting through each day, almost like a sleepwalker.

You may sleep throughout the day or spend a lot of time binging on CNN hoping that life will return back to normalcy soon. This pandemic is highlighting the lives of many people, what do I mean? You’ve been so busy with life that you:

  • Live day to day with a boring relationship with God, without a sense of purpose. Believers are supposed to be radical
  • Don’t know what your purpose is
  • Ignore God’s purpose and call for your life.

Respond to boredom by drawing closer to God.

  • Devote yourself to prayer
  • For those of you who don’t live alone, conduct a Bible Study
  • When you do have to go out, share the gospel

After this pandemic is over ask God to help you maintain your spiritual life and prioritize Him as you go through the busyness of life.

What is one way in which you will respond to boredom this week?

Worrying What Others Think

Posted on by Kim Petitt
不満顔の女性

“The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think.”

I’m not sure who coined this but it’s a powerful statement. There are people who struggle with this more than others, but we must understand; we have to be more concern with what God thinks than people. God’s grace is suffient for anything you may face. Worrying about what other people think can cause you to make foolish decisions. And, instead of being authentic you put on a façade.

You change the way you do things because you want the approval of others. You mind is racing in so many different directions that it can cause you to just be paralyze in anxiety. This is a huge topic that we could discuss in so many different ways. To get better with all this, we need to be confident in the Lord and practice. For example, if you have to speak in front of an audience and you are afraid of what other may think know that with practice you will become better at it. Practice with a group of friends or family members and above all ask God for help in the area of fear.

Take a minute and just think about it. If you stop caring what other people think, you would do things confidently. You wouldn’t be dealing with those discouraging “what ifs.” “I’m too this and not enough of that” or “I can’t do this.” Fear would no longer hold you in bondage. Worrying about the thoughts of others stops you from doing God’s will. Many times, God tells us to do something and our family tells us to do something contrary to what God says. “Everyone is going to think I’m a fool.” Sometimes trusting God and following His lead seems foolish to the world, If God tells you to do something, then do it. Don’t allow people to get you in trouble with God, their words are irrelevant. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God thinks good thoughts about you (Jeremiah 29:11) so think good thoughts about yourself as well. Sometimes we are our own worse critics. No one criticizes you like you criticizes yourself. You have to stop. If you struggle with low self-esteem, Satan will speak lies to you. Rebuke Him!

Turn to God. He is enough. If you learn to be confident in Christ, you will be confident in other areas of your life. When you are focused on what others think it stops you from being yourself. You start to over analyze everything you say and do. You can’t be yourself because you’re too busy being what you think others want you to be. Worrying what others think causes you to fear every situation you are faced with. You will be too afraid to step out and do something radical because you will think “what would people say about me if I fail.” You may be afraid to meet new people. You may be afraid to pray in public. It can cause you to make financial mistakes. You will be a people pleaser; it even cause you to be fearful to tell others you are a Christian. Worrying what others think is so dangerous for your spiritual life and your walk with God. We must be bold  Christians and even if that means offending people with the truth. I’m not saying we should live loose lives and then feel we shouldn’t care what others think about it. We should protect our witness, so we don’t lead anyone astray (Mark 9:42). We have to use wisdom when we shouldn’t care what others think and when we should.

Busybody

Posted on by Kim Petitt
Female ear and hands close-up. Copy space. Torn paper, yellow background. The concept of eavesdropping, espionage, gossip and the yellow press.

A busybody is a person who meddles in the affairs of others. Sometimes people who meddle do so under the guise of “helping,” usually the “help” is unsolicited. Busybodies often are dissatisfied in their own lives and gain satisfaction by becoming involved in other people affairs. Gossip is usually the crux of busybodies but is often camouflaged as “prayer” or given under the pretense of “I’m just looking out for you.” The Bible talks about busy bodies (2 Thessalonians 3:11, 1 Timothy 5:13, 1 Peter 4:15 and forewarns us, “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evil doer, or a troublesome meddler.” The Bible states that meddling is prohibited along with murder and theft.

Busybodies within the church often is under the disguise of compassion or concern. The difference between meddling and concern, however, is whether or not the intrusion is beneficial in the lives of others. Some people have a difficult time recognizing themselves as a busybody, so a few questions can assist in determining whether or not attempts to “helps” are, in fact, meddling tactics in disguise. A person should ask themselves the following questions:

  • Is this my assignment? (Ephesians 6:19)
  • Am I qualified to speak on this? (Romans 14:10)
  • What were the repercussions the last time I intruded in a situation that was not my business? (Proverbs 26:11)
  • Am I basing my “help” on scripture or my own subjectivity? (Proverbs 16:25)
  • Is this any of my business? (1 Timothy 5:13)

Answering these questions can help us determine whether our involvement  in the affairs of others is, in fact meddling. If we recognize that our “real motivation” is that we enjoy being in the midst of other people’s issues, its time to let God deal with your heart. At the root of a busybody is insecurity. Busybodies don’t often view themselves as insecure. If we find ourselves entangled in the secrets of others, its wise to seek counsel from spiritual leaders (ministers, elders, pastors) to help us overcome the sin of being a busybody.