{"id":9810,"date":"2023-07-29T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-29T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homewithgraceandjoy.com\/?p=9810"},"modified":"2023-07-21T15:02:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T20:02:00","slug":"hit-him-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homewithgraceandjoy.com\/2023\/07\/29\/hit-him-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Hit Him Again! Lessons Learned – by Jay Sikes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Saturday Morning Devotional <\/h2>\n\n\n
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Photo by Ali Ahmed on Pexels.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Hit Him Again! Lessons Learned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you ever feel like you just need to maybe pop yourself upside the head to knock some sense into yourself?  I have to admit I feel like I should be doing that a lot less as I\u2019ve gotten a little older.  Unfortunately, I continue to feel this way.  A good pop upside the head just might do me some good.  Thinking about this brings to my mind the old sermon joke, \u201cHit him again.\u201d  The only thing is, \u201chim\u201d is me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hit Him Again!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The crumbling, old church building needed remodeling, so the preacher made an impassioned appeal, looking directly at the richest man in town. At the end of the message, the rich man stood up and announced, “Pastor, I will contribute $1,000.” Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood again and shouted, “Pastor, I will increase my donation to $5,000.” Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again, and again he virtually screamed, “Pastor, I will double my last pledge.” He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell hitting him on the head. He stood once more and hollered, “Pastor, I will give $20,000!” This prompted a deacon to shout, \u201cHit him again, Lord! Hit him again!” <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hit Him Again Situations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I recently had an experience that, I hope, has given me a new direction.  Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever learn and I am pretty sure most of us feel this way at one time or another.  In this particular experience, I took an attitude which I have often taken before.  I knew there was some risk as to the action I was about to take.  Rather than do something different, my attitude was, I\u2019ll take the risk and deal with it when and if it goes bad.  Well, it went bad and I almost messed up in the process.  Had I not stopped when I did, it would have been bad.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though I did stop, it was a delicate situation to get out of without still doing damage.  Afterwards, I thought to myself, \u201cWhat was I thinking?\u201d \u201cWhy would I risk taking a chance on causing myself trouble, don\u2019t I know I already have more than I can get done without adding more to my plate?\u201d  Hit him again!  <\/p>\n\n\n

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No Risk Situations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the flip side, I had a simple option that was no risk and fail safe.  So, my new direction that I hope to have learned and will follow through on achieving is \u201cno risk.\u201d  In other words, if there is risk involved, I\u2019ll take another option unless there isn\u2019t one.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many times in my life I have stated \u201cWill I ever learn?\u201d  Am I insane?  The definition of insane has been said to be doing the same thing and expecting different results!  <\/p>\n\n\n

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This recent experience hopes to bring me the answer, \u201cYes, I have learned\u201d finally!  Since this discovery, I\u2019ve already said no to risks several times.  It\u2019s been awesome, yet I know me, and if I don\u2019t work to make it a habit, well, \u201cHit him again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Julia Larson on Pexels.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Related Scriptures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I believe Paul probably had a good idea about this.  We see this in his letter to the Romans.  I can relate so well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.\u201d <\/strong>
<\/strong>Romans 7:15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul also gives us the answer to avoid \u201cHit him again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!\u201d<\/strong>
Romans 7:24-25a<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is Jesus that will rescue us from those risky decisions.  Paul also tells us it is Jesus who rescues us in 1 Corinthians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.\u201d <\/strong>
<\/strong>I Cor. 10:13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But \u201cwhen you<\/strong> are tempted,\u201d <\/strong>The \u201cWay\u201d<\/strong> to stand up under it is Jesus.  Even Jesus tells us that Himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our choice is risky decisions that result in \u201cHit him again,\u201d or no risk decisions that offer peace and don\u2019t add more to our plate.  Although it\u2019s a no brainer, in the busy lives we live, we are too quick to take the riskier option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hit Him Again Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you are drawing a blank as to what some examples are that can result in \u201cHit him again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n