Contributor Post by Glenda Harbinson
I’ve discovered a love for Habanero peppers. At first I tried them because someone I know loves them and I was curious. Then I discovered that while they certainly do burn going in, they taste awesome. While my mouth was on fire I remembered something I had read about capsaicin in hot peppers helping with pain relief so I tried eating hot peppers each night before bed (always mixed with something!). Lo and behold, although I have questioned whether perhaps it’s the fire in my mouth overshadowing it, I have dealt with less leg pain every night I have eaten the peppers.
What does this have to do with life, anyway?
I think of it this way: When I spread that Habanero Gold jelly on my egg, I know what I am getting into. I am prepared. It’s a little bit like living for Jesus. When I put on the armor and decide I am going to give my all for Him, it’s going to get hot. Satan isn’t going to sit back and watch from the sidelines. He is going to do whatever he can to get us off the battlefield. He isn’t choosy about how he attacks us and usually goes for our most vulnerable points. We need to be prepared!
Many people prepare ahead for hot, spicy food. A glass of milk, a bowl of ice cream, something to sooth the burn after the hot food goes down. In a much more important way we must prepare for battle when we are serving Christ. We must bathe every action in prayer. We must make sure the prayer in our lives overshadows the battle we are facing.
Asking God for guidance, for strength, for wisdom daily, even hourly, is something that needs to come as naturally as taking a drink to soothe our mouth when it’s burning. It shouldn’t be something we need to remind ourselves to do but part of our response to battle. We have to do this until it comes naturally.
Eating Habanero peppers is a personal choice we make in life. I love them, but many don’t. Living for Jesus is so much more important. I share my love for peppers with others in hopes that I find someone to share my passion. Am I as faithful about sharing my love for Jesus? I’m afraid I may not be. I need to look myself in the mirror and face that question head-on.
What about you? What do you love? What passions do you hold that all your friends know about? Do they know you love Jesus, too?
Living for Jesus means there is going to be plenty of ‘hot’ in our lives. It’s not all roses and Baby’s Breath, but there is the God who loves us beyond anything we can comprehend. He adopted us. He wants us to hide in the shelter of His wings and bring life’s every burn to Him.
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P.S. We’d love to know your thoughts, so please be sure to comment below. Each of our commenters will be entered in a drawing for our current FREE book giveaway, Mothers & Daughters: Mending a Strained Relationship by author Teena Stewart.
Glenda is a homeschooling mom of four in New Brunswick, Canada. She also fosters one teen and provides respite care and tutoring for another. She and her paramedic husband Mark have been married for 24 years. Glenda’s writings often reflect her personal experience parenting and teaching children with developmental and learning differences, as well as a particular empathy for moms with chronic illness. She blogs at http://pwsmommy.homeschooljournal.net/ and can be reached by emailing glenda.harbinson@gmail.com
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Love it !! Passion is something that falls out of me like rain! I am glad I am blessed with the ability to express myself. Thank you for expressing yourself Glenda!