To be content
while striving for more
To guard my children
with an open door,
To love as God does
in a world full of sin
without letting worldly
temptations in,
With the faith of a child,
but not easily swayed,
To live in freedom,
with God’s will obeyed,
To seek holiness,
and struggle to learn
the right from the wrong,
without judgment, discern –
Not trusting in self,
yet to rightly divide,
to find self approved,
and to live as I’ve died,
Armed, ready for battle,
with peaceful trust,
and do all for love,
because I *must*…
To fear God is wisdom.
Yet true love, casts out fear.
Somehow I need both
while I dwell on this sphere.
So, Lord my prayer is,
as the New Year begins,
where my efforts fall short,
please cover my sins.
And if my mind fails
to make sense of Your will,
Let your grace lift the veil,
so I’ll follow You, still.
by Jane E Clark, Dec. 17, 2012
Lyricaltruth's Blog 
Today I am thinking about the contrast between turning the other cheek and shaking the dust off our feet. Both were instructions from Jesus for various situations.
We pour our time and effort into those who have ears to hear. We seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, not what the world approves. The point of turning the other cheek, giving an enemy a cloak, or walking the extra mile is that the offender does not get to choose our response by their demands. Our time and effort are a choice and gift then, not their theft.
While exemplifying God’s mercy, our focus & time are on the things that grow His kingdom. Let’s not spin our wheels sinking deeper in the mud with those who would keep us there.
It is for freedom (to obey Him) that Christ has set us free. We must not put ourselves under a yoke of bondage that pulls us from Him.