Good Afternoon. How did your Sunday go ? Were you able to get into Community yesterday? How’s your Monday afternoon going ? Hopefully you are staying cool and keeping yourself hydrated. Today’s Word of the Day is Avoidance. What does the word Avoidance mean to you?
Avoidance as defined by dictionary.com is a noun the act of avoiding or keeping away from:
the avoidance of scandal; the avoidance of one’s neighbors.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/avoidance#google_vignette
Avoidance Behavior as defined by Choosingthearpy.com is a coping mechanism that people use to avoid situations or feelings that cause discomfort, pain, or anxiety.
How can Avoidance of something and/or someone affect you ? If you Avoid something will it affect you ? Is there potentially a positive and negative to Avoiding something? Can Avoiding something be beneficial to you? If you Avoid something will it just go away ? When we Avoid something there is potential it may come back at a time we may not be able to efficiently deal with it.
Now , the Truth Avoiding something will not make it go away and improve the situation no it will make it much worse.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
II Timothy 2:15 NKJV
What happens when someone is having Chest Pain as a result of a heart attack and chooses to ignore it ? When you have a Toothache is the minor pain you choose to ignore now the need for Root Canal or more in-depth treatment? If we choose to Avoid going Left and go Right we may be re-routed and we may not be. Our opportunity to turn Left may no longer be an option because every time we rolled up to the Stop Sign we Choose not to go Left. There is no question somethings are meant to be avoided for the benefit of ourselves and others. However, there also times when choosing to Avoid something can cause us and/or others harm.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV
The next time you encounter something you are trying to Avoid ask yourself am I doing this to run from something I need to address ?
When we Avoid are we hurting ourselves? Is it hurting someone else ?
Some other questions you may want consider in your introspection are
Has XZY been something in the past I have tried to Avoid? Is there a reason what I am trying to Avoid keeps coming up ? Do you need to call for assistance determining what and possibly how to start the process of dealing with what you are Avoiding?
“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:33-34 AMPC
Am I doing behaviors that can negatively affect myself and others ? Am I doing self destructive behaviors to myself to Avoid. Only you can those questions but you can always go to the One that will give you 100% the Truth. Avoidance Behaviors can and will affect Mind, Body, and Soul. Is there something today Monday August 26th 2024 you can ask the question of yourself am I Avoiding XYZ and if you are First Recognize it which is huge and then continue with the process to address , embrace it not run and hide? Love you all, Love Yourself, Love Others? Embrace, Address not Avoid.