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A Better Way
By Ruth Bailey

Like a bird that's flown into a building, sometimes we can have troubles getting out of difficult situations. Sometimes we simply cannot do it on our own.

hile traveling to visit my brother recently, my husband and I stopped at a fast-food chain to get a salad and hamburger. As we sat enjoying our lunch, one of the managers sitting at a table across the aisle from us called for one of the restaurant workers to come to her immediately. As she called him, I looked up above the door, and there sitting quietly was a beautiful titmouse bird. It looked searchingly around without the appearance of fear.

The manager announced to her assistant in a loud voice that there was a live bird in the building. All eyes soon found the tiny creature. It flew to the back corner of the room amid screams from the young ladies as they dashed from the table closest to the door. I hear a small voice say, "Shouldn't we open the door?" Much scurry and noise came from behind me.

The young man designated to catch the bird had pulled a stocking cap over his hand to prevent himself from getting hurt. The bird darted under a table and then under the bench. Another small voice from the other side of the dining area suggested that the door should be opened. The bird flew from under the bench and soared toward the door on the opposite side of the room.

Several voices in unison from all over the dining area called out that the door needed to be opened. As the door swung outward, the relieved bird quietly and swiftly flew to freedom. Seeing the bird exiting its self-made prison created by bad choices brought thoughts of problems I have experienced in my life and tried to solve all alone, creating a private prison for myself.

Getting help to solve the problem

I have learned the best way to solve a problem is to talk to God about it first (James 5:13-18). Just go to a private place, get down on your knees and talk to Him about it and ask Him to direct your thoughts. If a private place isn't available, just pray silently wherever you are. This sounds like such an easy answer, but many times it is the most difficult thing in the world to do. Just do it.

After talking to God, I pull my old Cruden's Concordance or Nave's Topical Bible from the bookshelf and look up a key word about the problem I am trying to solve. These books show me the scriptures that relate to the problem (2 Timothy 3:16). I turn to every scripture, read it aloud, and many times write out the scriptures. Thinking, reading and writing at the same time helps my mind better understand (2 Timothy 2:15). The more senses I get involved, the better I understand. I am seeing the Word, hearing the Word, thinking the Word and writing the Word at the same time.

I also seek advice from my husband. He gives me the male perspective about the problem or situation I am trying to solve. I value his expert advice. Sometimes I bounce the situation off close friends to see what they think. I try to always present all the facts -- as Joe Friday always said, "Just the facts ma'am" -- and not my biased opinion.

Quiet time alone

I have learned the best way to solve a problem is to talk to God about it first
After doing these things, I like to do yard work, such as weeding a flower bed or vegetable garden, so I can be alone thinking and talking with God in my mind about the solution to the problem. Doing some rote job that allows my mind to be free while keeping my body occupied can help me come to the final decision on how to solve the problem. For you it may be cleaning the kitchen or the bathroom alone (these are tasks that no one else really wants to do) or taking a long walk while you think and allow God to guide your mind (1 Timothy 4:15).

How long?

Getting the bird out of the fast-food restaurant was accomplished in a relatively short time -- 10 minutes or so. But, we think, I need an answer now! God doesn't work on our timetable, but His. A thousand years to us is one day to God (Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8). The answer may not be immediately revealed. But keep bringing it to God and asking Him to give you the answer (Luke 18:1-8).

Do we listen to God, or do we allow physical factors to influence our decision and lead us to do the wrong thing?
The bird knew what to do to get out of the building. Several customers knew what to do to help get the bird out of the building. When the manager listened to the advice, opened the door and allowed the bird to fly to freedom, the problem was solved. The same is true for humans. The key to solving our problems is going to the right source for the answers. Knowing what is the right thing to do and doing the right thing are not the same.

Do we listen to God, or do we allow physical factors to influence our decision and lead us to do the wrong thing? So many times we try to solve our problems all by ourselves. Listen to God (John 10:3-5). Just as the many still small voices of the customers were telling the manager how to free the bird, God speaks to us many times in a still small voice revealing to us how to solve our problems.

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Keywords: problem solving prayer advice counsel 

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