Today I have to step back and evaluate my heart... I not only became very anxious, but I also became a bit passive aggressive in my mood. Honestly, things were not going well, so I got grouchy... ARGH! Father, I so don't want to react that way. I want to react well, respond greatly.... and let go of the things that are said. Help me to adjust, re-approach and lay down my own hurt feelings to pick up Your armor, Your humility and Your ability through the Spirit to act rightly; beginning with rightly thinking!
As I drove home tonight, I examined… and He exposed! The war, at times, is the harshness of the flesh – the selfishness that misguides and misdirects my thoughts. As I sit here tonight, engaging and dwelling, I am reminded “Be gentle and forbearing with one another…” for me, it all comes down to thought, reflection and contemplation (you might even call it the internal complaining dialog).
“Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
“Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].
“And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
“Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.
“And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.” ~Colossians 3:12-17 (New American Standard Bible)
I love His Word... the gift of life through our minds, into our souls... AWE... awesome God!!!!
"The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" ~Psalm 27:1 (New International Version)In the testing we see His strength. Perseverance is the finisher of work. His love gives us everything we need to accomplish this. And it's only when we believe His promises for life that “His will” will be done.
Father, it’s in my inward motives that I see Your love and tenderness so vividly. Help me to stay in tune with Your desires for my life, thought, action, reaction and motives… Purify me and let me dwell in the engagement.
©2013 Giving Thanks Daily, Shawn Boreta
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