Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Impact Resistant


"Impact resistant knives!" hawked the infomercial on the TV. I was dusting furniture and I didn't notice the news show had been replaced with this knife commercial program. Over and over the presenter shouted "Impact resistant!"

I'm pondering if I have sought to become impact resistant to avoid pain. How else could a compassionate responsible woman go on about my day to day living without spending more time praying for the needs of others? I don't want to fall to pieces, but the alternative is worse: I could become impact resistant.

Coming through the grief process of my husband's death and some other losses I fear I've become so concerned with surviving, I may have become too cautious about my emotional well being. When I read the statistics on how little time folks pray, I'm ahead of the average. I remember a time when I prayed with passion every day for all those laying heavy on my heart.

Today I pray for God's ideal in my heart sensitivity. Daily I'm setting aside a specific time to pray with empathy for those around me. Whatever impact resisstance I have developed in self surival, I'm believing compassion takes over and God brings me to be what pleases Him.


"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." ( John 13:34-35)

3 comments:

Kelly said...

Wow. Your words touched me. I have become impact resistant over the years...it was either that or shatter. I need to work on compassion too. Thanks!

Marilyn in Mississippi said...

I think you have touched a nerve for all the Christian community! I think we all have a tendency to become "impact resistant" in an act of self preservation. We don't like to be hurt. But unless we open ourselves up to be hurt we can never really touch others as Christ would have us to do!

You are so insightful Kay!

Love ya,
Marilyn

God's girl said...

Really like that title Kay. Have I become impact resistant? I need to examine my heart. I have been through lots of hurt and really I do not want to cope this way.
Much love,
Angela

© 2008 Kay Martin

Thrive In Christ

Who I Am In Christ by Neil Anderson

For several months we will center on this book to pursue Thriving in our Christian journey.

Neil challenges us with: "Do you know who you are in God's eyes? We are no longer products of our past. We are primarily products of Christ's work on the cross. Who we are determines what we do.

You are not who you are in Christ because of the things you have done, you are in Christ because of what He has done. He died and rose again so that you and I could live in the FREEDOM of His love."

That's just the introduction. More to follow.