Don't be a Slouch

These days, with all that’s going on in our personal lives or a family member’s life or in our world, it’s enough to make us feel like we’re carrying the weight of it all on our shoulders. And all that weight causes us to slouch. My mama wouldn’t let me be a “slouch”. I hear her voice right now: “Donna, stop slouching!” She’d be standing behind me and take her hands and pull back my shoulders. She wanted to spare me of slumped shoulders that could result in chronic bad posture. I’m saying those words “Donna, stop slouching!” to myself today. I must consciously correct my posture because my tendency is to slouch at my desk or when I’m eating or in a comfy chair. I realize that there are those who have physical issues that keep them from an erect posture, but for the rest of us, we can strive for good posture as we train our bodies to stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on our supporting muscles and ligaments. Proper posture keeps our bones and joints in correct alignment. It also prevents backaches, joint pain, headaches, fatigue, and muscular pain, and above all, it just makes us look better to be standing and sitting erect. Who wants to be a “slouch” anyway? The definition for “slouch” is the position someone holds their body when they’re standing or sitting, but it also means the position someone holds in their attitude, point of view, or frame of mind. Our thinking might be “slouching” because we’re taking in so much negativity that our inward posture of faith needs to hear my mama’s voice, and better yet, God’s voice: “Stop slouching!” If we allow naysayers and hope drainers to influence our positive, God-minded attitude, then we’ll start to complain and worry. We just might become “slouchers”. Instead of radiating a posture of hope, faith, and positivity, we side in with the negative voices and attitudes around us. Negative attitudes are draining to the point of depression. If we let them continue, before long chronic sadness and hopelessness will consume us. Joy becomes a foreign word to us. When we catch ourselves siding in with the enemy’s lies that there’s no hope, our posture (frame of mind) goes south. But, this “posture” can be corrected, thanks to the assurance God gives us. “Him I will keep in perfect peace whose MIND stays on Me.” (Isaiah 26:3) Wonderful Holy Spirit took my Mom's place as I daily hear Him say "Donna, stop slouching. Change your posture to trust, hope, belief and be joy-filled, hope-filled and STAND UP straight.” When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, He promised us the Holy Spirit Who would be our comforter, advocate, counselor and THE VOICE we must intentionally listen to instead of the voices the enemy uses to cause us to “slouch”. If we will purpose to choose to maintain an inward posture of faith and hope, the grace of God will intervene in every area of our lives, and we will walk and stand erect in the victory that was promised to us. I’m purposing to work on my outward AND inward posture. How about you? Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."