Davids Daily Dose

When Down Means Up

Chris Thelen, from the 140 Character Christian got my attention recently with his post What Does Being Poor in Spirit Get You?

My blogger friend pondered why Jesus started his Sermon on the Mount with this:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus- Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

If I’d been there that day, listening to Jesus, I probably would’ve scratched my head in disbelief.

Come on, Good Teacher! Tell us we’re much more powerful than we believe. Be our earthly king and kick the Romans out of Palestine.

Regular Me (David)

Yet, over two millennia later, what Christ said makes sense—well, God sense.

When we feel like we’re at the end of the road (metaphorically), there’s more room for God in our lives—if (and it’s a big if) we let Him rule.

In my comment to Chris, I confessed that I’d recently gone through two days of being poor in spirit, where I struggled to let God do anything.

My wife and I traveled several states away to visit our oldest son, and things didn’t go as planned.

So, I moped around our hotel suite (free upgrade) and treated myself to an expense steak dinner at a fancy restaurant.

Feel better, now?

The Holy Spirit (talking to me)

You know the answer.

Down in the hotel lobby, I got irritated with the elevator. I wanted to go up, but it was going down.

“Let the doors shut, and then push the up button,” said my wise, and calmer wife.

I did, and voila! The red up arrow lit and the elevator reopened.

On the way to the 17th floor, I had time to think.

Stop sulking, and choose a better perspective—My perspective.

Almighty God (not me)

Kind reader, we go up with God by first going down—humbling ourselves. It’s as simple as letting the doors shut and pressing the up button.

This is probably not news to you, but, like me, do you sometimes stumble over yourself, when life gets hard?

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

The Stigma Stops Here. 🛑

#mentalhealthmatters

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Comments

19 responses to “When Down Means Up”

  1. DailyArmorDevotional Avatar
    DailyArmorDevotional

    Ditto brother, I enjoy reading your life lessons and unique perspective. I LOVE what your Dad said, so true! Too often the Lord has held a mirror up to my own whiny attitude and said, “Doesn’t look like me at all, does it?”🫣😆
    Have a blessed day my friend!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Thank you, Nicola. I commented on one of your excellent posts when I was in that basement place, and you encouraged me to hold on to the Lord. I did, and He held on to me. Thank you! Spring is indeed here. It was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit here yesterday! 🙏Blessings to you and your family.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. seeingliketheeagle Avatar
    seeingliketheeagle

    And you went way up David from the basement. I’m guessing the 17th floor was pretty high…you’d get a different perspective that high up. Your posts are a blessing David and so relatable. Have a good day..Spring is here 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Rosie Meadow Avatar
    Rosie Meadow

    Yes! All the time!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Bridget Avatar
    Bridget

    I understand. I feel like I have been on a roller coaster lately, similar to this. I appreciate your honesty. God used your story to speak to my heart. I’m so thankful there is no short supply of His resets. I’m sorry things didn’t go as planned with your son. I can understand why that would be frustrating. But I’m glad the Lord was there when you needed Him. I’m thankful He never gives up on us. May He bless you and keep you too, brother!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I’m glad you found my story helpful, Bridget. Essentially, the Lord showed me the depths of my selfish pride. I was angry and frustrated and blaming Him for what happened with my son. And He just let me go on for a while. But then, through another circumstance, the Lord humbled me, and I was ready to listen to Him again. Sorry, to write another post here, but I was pretty low for a bit. Thank God for resets! 🙏May He bless and keep you, sister!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Bridget Avatar
    Bridget

    Yes! I’m with you. Lately, I can’t seem to get out of my own way. Thank you, David. I really needed this message.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Good point, brother. God is like an app that is constantly working in the background. And, He doesn’t need our knowledge or permission to do so. I’m grateful He’s patient with His children, because I can get dejected in a hurry. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your encouragement to write more. I do want to!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar
    The Devotional Guy™

    Thankfully, God doesn’t need us to do stuff. He works even when we don’t let Him. I appreciate how honest and vulnerable you are in this story, David. I’m guessing the people listening to Jesus had similar thoughts to yours (and mine) when He began teaching. We kinda still live in that sort of Christian world today. We want the Lord to help us gain worldly success and help us rise up the elevator when God wants to bless us in much better ways. Not to mention, He can get us from here to there in a heartbeat.

    Love your writing, brother. Wish you had time to write more often. You’re truly a blessing.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    True. It’s certainly not the world’s way of thinking. What Jesus told some Pharisees comes to mind: how what is valuable to many people is detestable to God.
    Thank you for reading and commenting, Malcolm. This week was our spring holiday from school.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I’m praying for you and your next step, Pastor Pete. We are on our way to sing at a nursing home. Serving others in Jesus’ name always brings a better perspective.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I’m praying for you, brother Alan. 🙏May you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
    🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸

    Liked by 2 people

  13. malcolmsmusingscom Avatar
    malcolmsmusingscom

    Thanks, David. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and upside-down being right-way-up…. down being up… losers being winners approach to life is as counter-cultural today as it was then

    Liked by 2 people

  14. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    I need more friends like you, brother Eric. The
    life experiences you write about have gifted you a valuable perspective. “Woe is me” whiners-like me—need to stop taking ourselves so seriously. My dad used to tell me, “Son, the only thing that’s the end of the world is the end of the world.”
    Thanks for stopping by, brother! God Bless.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. DailyArmorDevotional Avatar
    DailyArmorDevotional

    I actually laughed when I read this, but in a totally sympathetic/empathetic way. My dear wife sometimes has moments of frustration that turn into a comedy of errors the more frustrated she gets…like a snowball, it seems that frustration only invites everything to go wrong.😑 We laugh about it after the fact, when things have settled down.
    Thank God for the Holy Spirit in heavy times, when it seems the dark clouds won’t stop raining on us. He reminds us that His light will never fade. God bless and keep you sunny today, brother David! ☀️ 🙏

    Liked by 3 people

  16. davidsdailydose Avatar
    davidsdailydose

    Thank you for reading and commenting, Grant. You’re right, self-sufficiency is a strong elixir; it tempts us to think we need no one else—even God. It’s a good thing He is loving and patient and kind. I’m grateful for the resets He’s given me over the years, and, as you said,
    these often provide opportunities to point others to God. 🙏Blessings to you and yours.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Alan Kearns Avatar
    Alan Kearns

    This is a very pertinent and encouraging message David, thank you brother 😊
    My lift has been stuck in the basement lately but God is always there, and things are on the up slowly. God bless you and Nancy today my dear friend and brother 🙏 🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

    Liked by 3 people

  18. pastorpete51 Avatar
    pastorpete51

    Thanks for your story. This week has been similar for me. Inviting God to be my heart’s inspector and corrector has lead to the next step I’ve been needing to take.

    Liked by 4 people

  19. Grant Ferguson Avatar
    Grant Ferguson

    An excellent dose, David, and while reading I recalled spiritual life in a large corporation. Many opportunities to minister, but few to the self-made executives. When they stubbed their toes on a business or personal problem, the door opened to share the Lord. Some bonds lasted for a moment, others lasted for years, and they met God in their time of need. Thank you!

    Liked by 4 people

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