Welcome to the Mighty Men Training Institute

This is something that came to me while shoveling the multiple inches of snow from the driveway.

I have a new personal goal. I'm not comfortable yet reaching out and saying that my goals are things everyone should strive for but this came to me and everyone here can let me know what they think.

Things That Bother Us vs. Prayer Opportunities

Think about your life. Think about the things that "bother" you. Things as little as 12 inches of snow you have to shovel at dawn. That guy who just cut you off on the way to work. Or things are large as corporate corruption and it's place in the recent downswing of our economy. Or that your boss doesn't seem to recognize your hard work and it seems you'll never get that promotion.

It's my ultimate goal as a Christian to walk as closely in Christ's steps as possible. A way for me to do that is by not letting anything bother me.

Let's break down the word bother real quick.

to give trouble to; annoy; pester; worry:

The Bible teaches us that nothing can stand in our way when it comes to reaching God. So in return, we should not let things in our life, no matter how superficial or shallow or empty annoy, pester, or worry us. Nothing in this world should give trouble to us. Simply for the fact that He said that nothing shall stand in our way.

We even hit on it last week with

Luke 10:19 - I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

As a course of action to help fulfill this goal in my life I'm going to start realizing that things that used to bother me are simply prayer opportunities. They are chances for me to either bring myself closer to God or to bring someone else closer.

When someone's actions or words begin to "bother" me, I'm going to mentally step back and realize that this is simply an opportunity for me to grow as a Christian. This is a chance for me to pray for understanding of that person, pray for patience and calmness, pray to help get over whatever is causing some kind of gap between us. Because face it, as much as you may not like the action or words or lifestyle of any single person on this planet. It is our job as Christians to take in all as our brothers and bring them closer to Christ.

So even if it's that guy who just cut you off. You almost wrecked your car, you had to stomp the brakes and your steaming coffee got all over your lap and your temper is as hot as your thighs are now. Mentally step back and realize there may just be a reason that person cut you off. Maybe that person needs a Christian to pray for them and that's how God got one of his followers to perk up and go "Let me pray for that person and make sure God touches them."

Or if you're going through a situation that's a lot tougher and it's "bothering" you. Use that as an opportunity to pray. An opportunity to exercise your faith in God. And by both meanings of the word exercise. Not only be executing your faith in God but by making it stronger through practice. Say to yourself "this isn't going to bother me. I'm going to pray and God will once again reward my faith in Him."

So it is my personal mission to no longer let anything "bother" me. Do I expect to be able to mentally step back from every troublesome situation from the very start and realize each and every new prayer opportunity that arises? No. But I do expect myself to be able to look back every day and see places where I could have. And every day take new steps to realize those prayer opportunities.