3 Requirements For Contemporary Antidotes Today

ANTIDOTES

The whole world, not just New Zealand, is in a time of transition.  Transition brings uncertainty.   Uncertainty really means “a certainty of change to what has been known”.  Change affects us all in varying degrees.  It produces for most portions of frustration, annoyance, fear, anger.   We can be inundated with often unhelpful thoughts or voices around us which can bring us to a place of despair.  We don’t want despair we want peace! So three antidotes:

Perseverance

This is a word we usually don’t like to hear when we face challenging times, but we need to. What does it mean to persevere in a tough time?  It is to stay hopeful and carry peace in a season of transition.  Waiting is not easy.  So may we look at perseverance not as hard work but with the view that in my perseverance I “see” hope.  Hope is the outcome of perseverance in a hard time. If you did not know the true meaning of word Hope, it is to have a "positive expectancy".

I understand for some it may be difficult to have a positive expectancy. So what can help? This leads me to antidote number 2.

Joy

I have touched on this in my blog few months back which I recommend you read “3 Reasons why Joy is a strength for wellness” so I’ll just briefly say, it pays to make a deliberate agreement with yourself to increase your joy level, to have an attitude of thankfulness.  This is powerful.  Gratitude is important for us all right now, to know how to reassure yourself so you can carry delight and joy that comes from within us not reliant on external circumstances. To go into a state that is beyond the circumstances. Understand that what you perceive you will receive. Music and or mediation, and or journaling are just two powerful tools to help

Temperance

I came across this word couple weeks ago. This is the Greek word for “enkrateia” meaning self-control or discipline meaning to “master your passion and desires having the power over yourself in action””.  So taking care and control over our words, attitudes, emotions and behavior right now is and will be very important. I feel this is going to become even more of an issue for many in NZ in the next few months.

WHAT TO STAY AWAY FROM

Let’s look at some things that will not help us in this season:

dwelling on the negative or listening to fear;

hanging with the wrong people.  Look at the people whom you are hanging with, what is their language like?  Ask yourself is it helpful to my state of mind and wellbeing right now? If not what can you do about it? Can you say something to them? Action what needs to be actioned

screen addiction.  Guard yourself from what you are hearing on TV especially the news currently, turn it off at least for a time.  Edit from what you read and watch via social media and emails

distractions.  Guard yourself from distractions that are not beneficial to moving yourself forward to where you need to be, or in producing Hope

YOUR ACTION

So, stay focused on moving forward with positive expectancy in place as you make changes, have the conversations that need to be had and make decisions, whilst carrying a heart of thankfulness.  If you look hard enough there is always something to be thankful for.  Then stand firm preserve and stay focused on moving forward whilst activating self control and discipline when required. If you need help get it.

My prayer is that we all do our best to keep our character intact as we go through this season of change and adjustment.

My hearts desire especially right now is that we as people and as a nation stay united in this coming season and not allow our pride to divide us.  Respect individual decisions and  individual reasoning.  Like the whole vaccine issue which is hot right now.

May we hold our tongue and not fall into the trap of  “the need to be right” when discussions and emotions flare up. Have temperance.  May we not take offense when other people voice opinions, views, beliefs that differ from our own and we think ourselves “right”.

Its not worth losing friendships or seeing family relationships destroyed. Everybody feels the tension over many issues right now.  KNOW that we are all doing the best we can, making choices with what we believe is right for ourselves and family due to our own individual beliefs and knowledge that we have.  No one needs added pressure put on them even if we think we are helping, be careful what you are saying on social media and if someone doesn’t ask for your view or want your views maybe silence is the best option or ask if you can share your thoughts if they say no, then respect that.

May we all support each other and be kind now more than ever before, look out for each other regardless of our differing views and perspectives. These are times when peoples character, anger, pride can show up. may we instead carry peace and joy with self-discipline and wish goodwill to all people.

Ephesians 3:17-19 Be rooted & grounded in God’s love and you’ll be quick to forgive and slow to take offense”