Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A New Day

I just want to say PRAISE THE LORD!!!! I am saying this because I have been going through some things in the past few days that the enemy has tried to use to take me down and control me. But it is not working, thanks to God, my husband, and a few friends. We have a choice everyday when we wake up if this is going to be a good day or a bad one. I believe that God would have us to choose the good one. We need to remember that no matter what is said about us or what is done to us that God is always right beside us, guiding us through every valley and up every mountain as long as we take the time to listen.

I am currently reading two books; "The Love Dare" and "Facing Your Giants". While I was reading last night in the "Love Dare", one of the first things that it says is to be patient. Now how hard is that? For me, quite hard, I am not a patient person at all. In fact these are the three paragraphs that spoke to me last night:



If your spouse offends you, do you quickly retaliate, or do you stay under control? Do you find that anger is your emotional default when treated unfairly? If so, you are spreading poison rather than medicine.

Anger is usually caused when the strong desire for something is mixed with disappointment or grief. You don't get what you want and you start heating up inside. It is often an emotional reaction that flows out of our own selfishness, foolishness, or evil motives.

Patience, however, makes us wise. It doesn't rush to judgement but listens to what the other person is saying. Patience stands in the doorway where anger is clawing to burst in, but waits to see the whole picture before passing judgement.



Now let that soak in for a moment. Patience makes us wise. That's one way of putting it, but it got my attention. When we look at the bible God tells us so much about being patient, so why don't we get it? That's probably what He is thinking too. Sometimes we let our anger get the best of us and then we make a mess of things, when if we would just sit back and listen and be patient things would be a lot better off and we might get along a little better in the world. How many times have we all had someone trying to explain things to us or explain why they feel the way they do and instead of listening we burst in with our own comments or we go straight to the defense? I know that have stuck my feet in my mouth and chewed on them only to decide how awful the taste was one too many times. So I am asking God to give me His patience and His ability to listen to others and most of all self-control over any situation that arises.

Thank you, God for this new day that you give us and thank you for the choice that you give us every day.



Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

2 comments:

JoAnna Goodman said...

You said it perfectly!! The patience virtue -- Bless God's heart -- he just wants us to get it!! I've chewed on my feet more times than I can count, so you're not alone!! heehee

Michelle said...

WOW!!! Amazing insight!!! That is some really good stuff. Thanks for sharing. I started reading The Shack and it has changed my life!!! Maybe you should read that next?
Hope you have a great rest of the week!
Michelle