Mental Rehearsals Gone Awry

As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." Genesis 12:11-13 (New International Version)

Due to a famine in the land of Canaan, Abram took his wife and household into the land of Egypt, but before he even stepped foot on the soil of that land, his mind was already playing out a scenario and he decided on actions to counter that scenario. I call it ‘mental rehearsing’ and it is as dangerous for me as it was for Abram. Why? Because although the things he feared were plausible and possible they were not based on truth, faith, or trust.

Abram had already been told by God that his would be a life of blessing and within that blessing was a promise of protection and care, “I will make a great nation of you. I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you.” Abram had no need to fear the worst because God had already promised His best. When faced with the unknown it is imperative that we review the truths and promises of Scripture in order to counter all the “what ifs” that our minds can manufacture.

This speaks volumes to me in the early hours of this day. I know what it is like to picture scenes in my mind and react to them as if they are predetermined truth. I not only picture actual rooms and the people in those rooms, but I mentally rehearse what I anticipate those people will think, say, feel, and do. I either brace myself for the worse case scenario or allow myself to imagine the better than life possibilities. This can play itself out for a visit, a phone call, and even an email. Either way is dangerous as they simply lead to unnecessary emotional battles of anticipated rejection or vast amounts of disappointment.

How much better it would be to admit to myself and God that I don’t know what lies ahead but He does. Admit that I am not a mind or heart reader but He is. Rest in the fact that if He leads me to a certain place or situation He will take care of me. Walk with a confidence that He has my back, my heart, my hand, and my life in His hands. How much better it would be if I would bring others and myself to God in prayer rather than spend my energies watching unfounded scenes dance across the walls of my mind.

As I read of Abram’s experience I can sense God saying, “Learn from his mistake and trust Me. Know that I alone know what lies ahead. You don’t have to be held captive by your mental rehearsals any longer.”

Father, I have rehearsed countless scenes in my mind for most of my life. How that practice has robbed me of the joy of living with abandon and trust in You. Thank you for the change that You can and will bring about for me. Amen.

Trust His Heart - Babbie Mason
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9743PE3GXE&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.