Everyone knows someone who annoys them. Does your reaction reflect that you are a Christian? If you are practicing self-control, it does. You cannot always change someone else, but you can change the way you react to someone.
Galations 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentileness, and self-control. Against chuch there is no law.
If you are a Christian, you have the Spirit of God inside you. When someone is annoying you, the Spirit inside you still loves that person. No matter what our flesh is feeling, the Spirit is still kind and patient toward that person. If we allow our spirit to direct us, we can have self-control. Then our reactions will be in line with what God expects from us.
How do you practice self control?
In John 2, noticed what Jesus did before he drove out the money changers.
John 2:13-16 Now the Passover of the Jew was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned tables. And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
Before he cleaned out the temple, He made a whip. He removed himself from the situation first, and took time to make a whip out of cords. When you find yourself around someone who annoys you, excuse yourself and evaluate the situation.
While you are away, ask yourself and God these questions...
1. Is it really them, or is it me?
Have you done something to them that you need to get right with them? or Are they reminding you of something that you need to get right with God?
2. Is is something that needs to be addressed?
If so, what is the best way, time, and place to address it?
3. Is it something that you need to overlook?
Somethings just aren't worth the hurt it may cause. You need to ignore it and move on.
As you spend time "making your whip," God will help you better understand both yourself and the person who is annoying you.
Thanks for posting, Kerry! You are doing a great job. Please, keep up the good work. Don't get discouraged when no one comments on your posts or even if only one or two people comment. More are reading than are commenting, I promise. God's Word will not return void. Our job is to proclaim it! That, my friend, you do well.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, congrats on your exercising too! I know what hard work that is to get started and keep going. I've started many times and quit and regret it every time.
Because of Christ,
Tracey
traceysrhema.blogspot.com