Honk Your Horn
Photo Credit: BabaDesign, via SXC
I take the turnpike to work. On most mornings, I am on autopilot. My car gets there, but I don’t remember much of the ride. Today was a bit different.
I’d driven about half way to my destination. The radio was turned up, and my spirit be-bopped along in a happy mood.
All of a sudden, some crazy guy in a beat up dodge decided he needed to get over — across three lanes — right in front of me. Mr. Crazy Dodge Dude cut me off, and I was not happy with him.
So, I did what any other concerned citizen would have done. I laid down on my horn — because someone needs to let Crazy Dodge Dude know that he is in the wrong. I mean, he could have killed me. Right?
The problem is that my horn decided to get stuck. Yep. That’s right. My horn decided to keep right on honking. There I was on the expressway in a panic. I was imagining that I would be pulling into the driveway at work with that thing blaring. I frantically pounced on that horn to see if I could get it to pop and turn off.
The loud wail persisted.
That’s when it hit me. You know, that Holy Spirit moment when you hear the voice in your head that slaps you hard right in that stubborn spot that needs a little discipline.
This is what happens when you are loud and rude, Lyli. You think you have it under control, but your wailing persists.
God held a mirror up to my ugliness this morning. He used my car horn.
On my lunch hour, I decided to look into the mirror of His Word to get a firm grasp on what else God had to say about horn honking. I looked up the word “yell” (because the word honk is not in the Bible), and I discovered that sometimes God wants us to yell. But, He doesn’t want me to yell at the Crazy Dodge Dude. No, he wants me to raise my voice to right a wrong of a different kind.
Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves…You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way…It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.” So let God work His will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time (James 4:1-7, MSG).
My Sisters, today I am resolving to say a “Quiet Yes” to God and to yell a “Loud No” to the one who seeks to rob me of my peace.
Tomorrow, I will be back on the turnpike. I’m praying that I will only honk my horn at the right enemy. I want to be-bop for Him the whole way home.
May we always give a “quiet yes!” to God! Thanks for the great post & for hosting, & God bless.
So glad to have you here, Laurie! 🙂
Lyli,
What a great thought…saying “a quiet yes” to God with you…glad your horn turned itself off/got unstuck, right? Thanks for hosting and listening to His Spirit 🙂
Yes, Dolly! God is gracious, and that thing eventually stopped blaring. 🙂
What a great illustration. Thank you for hosting Lyli!! <3
He does use the best visual aids in His lessons. Doesn’t He? 🙂
The quiet yes. Absolutely. Honking comes so much more easily, doesn’t it? Thanks for giving me something to think about this morning.
Unfortunately, I honk easily. I am thankful for His Spirit who keeps me in check.
What a wonderful life application, Lyli! having grown up in NYC, it has amazed me to realize how quickly people will lean on the horn. May we become a more patient people, offering grace to others on the road. And may we always say the quiet yes & the loud no. Loved the insight God brought to you on your drive. Have a great ride to work this morning!
Thanks, Joanne. Today was blissfully uneventful, and I be-bopped with reckless abandon. 🙂
Lyli –
I hope you won’t mind me coming back & leaving a 2nd comment but my spirit is jumping. So I read your post earlier this morning. I am now in the middle of reading today’s portion for the 40 Day NT Challenge & came to Matthew Chapter 12. I am using The Message – “Look well at my handpicked servant, I love him so much, take such delight in him. I’ve placed my Spirit on him; he’ll decree justice to the nations. BUT HE WON”T YELL, WON’T RAISE HIS VOICE; there’ll be no commotion in the streets. He won’t walk over anyone’s feelings, won’t push you into a corner. Before you know it, his justice will triumph; the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off believers.” (verse 18-21). I love when God works this way, confirming His Word & thoughts to us. Great insights this morning, Lyli. Thank you for sharing them!
Love,
Joanne
Wow, Joanne! I love it when God does that. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
Love this post, Lyli! And I feel for you having to hear that car horn blaring. Isn’t
God amazing the way He disciplines us in ways that are custom made for each of us. How wonderful that you are close enough with Him to accept the lesson. I remember my very first Bible study talked about God’s discipline and that He only corrects His children. It means you are His.
Thanks for that sweet reminder, Laura. We are blessed to be sisters, you know. 🙂
It is amazing sometimes when God uses such moments as His moments to bring to light what he wants us to correct. He has brought me to joyful tears some of those times when he corrects me like this… reminds me of how much he loves me.
Thanks for sharing Lyli and for hosting us too, do have a super blessed day!
Love
I am thankful that He is gentle in His approach.
Oh so convicting to me this morning. Love the version of James you quoted. I can be such a spoiled child wanting my own way too often.
Thanks for the convicting reminder it’s not all about me.
I am starting to really fall in love with The Message translation.
Oh, my–I would have hated being in that situation with a stuck horn. ha. I assume it finally got tired and gave up eventually?
Love your summary to say a “quiet yes” to God and yell a “loud no” to Satan. Thanks for sharing what you learned, Lyli.
I can laugh about it now, Lisa,… but it was not funny yesterday at about 8:45 AM.
Yes, it stopped. I think I will lay off it from now on. 🙂
What a great illustration for all of us! Oh, how I need the Holy Spirit to show me when to just be quiet!!
Me, too (obviously!) 🙂
Smiling all the way through! Can’t imagine you getting mad at anyone Lyli but we are all human. Loved the reminders in this post! ♥
Nannette, I have a fiery Hispanic temperament. It doesn’t come out as often these days, but then I have mornings like yesterday, and I am reminded that my flesh needs a good funeral.
Great analogy – thank you for sharing this. 🙂 Gentle Joy
Joy, thanks for joining in on all the link up fun this week! I’m excited about exploring your blog. 🙂
Great illustration!
Karen, thank you for that sweet comment! It’s so great to see you here. 🙂
1) Thank you for visiting BeautyObserved on Wednesday and thank you for commenting.
2) Wonderful post! Oh how I love/hate it when that mirror is held up to my face. Thank you for reminding us also to turn to scripture when that happens.
3) I have a link-up every Friday if you are interested in participating!
Elizabeth, I was so happy to see you link up (I was hoping you would — I loved visiting your blog.). Thanks for sharing your link up with us. I will definitely be dropping by to visit on Fridays soon. 🙂
Thank you! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Ouch. You’re definitely provoking some thoughts with this post today, Lyli. (And will you forgive me for laughing at the horn incident, just a little bit???)
Yes, the Lord does have a way of sometimes gently, sometimes loudly, pointing out where we need a little *refining* – I’ve got to listen better!
Honk, honk.
GOD BLESS!
Blessings, Lyli! So blessed that you were blessed through my pain in the neck. I knew I’d be blogging about it eventually – even as I lay on the deck waiting for my husband to help me up. I am humbled to know you shared it with others.
I’ve linked up with you here – and will put your button in my sidebar. Hope to link again. I’m moving towards more devotional writing this year – and working on a book to the purpose, too. I could spend all day browsing the work of the Lord in the lives of our sister bloggers online. Won’t we have the tea party when the Lord comes and we meet Him – and each other – face to face!
Joy to you!
Kathy
I love when He uses things like that to teach us a lesson. Just like the parables He used in the first century!
I’m here from the Spiritual Sundays link up.
Hi Lyli, Oh sometimes it’s just to easy to become irritated and frustrated with these unwelcomed distractions, and react to the situation with impatience and irritation. But I know we have a choice on how we respond and react to these aggravations….we need to practice dealing with disruptions in a Godly way as they actually rise to meet us and pause before responding impatiently (which only leads to more stress, anger, and frustration!) God always has a way of showing us! 🙂
Blessings; thanks for hosting! Enjoy your weekend!
Denise
“I want to be-bop for Him the whole way home.” What a great way to wrap up this lovely thought-provoking post. Blessings to you on this Saturday. 🙂