Back again after spending a wonderful weekend in Oklahoma City with my two sisters, my daughter and my daughter-in-law. We "shopped till we dropped", ate some really good food, and talked, talked, talked! I think the only time we weren't talking was either when we were laughing or sleeping! It is such a blessing to be able to spend times like this with people that you love so much!
Now - back to temptation - or rather, how not to fall into temptation. I don't know about you, but for me every day brings with it times that give me the choice of succumbing to my human side or of living by the Spirit that resides within me. Galatians 5:17 let's us know that this is a constant struggle between our two natures, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." Not all of these times are huge, monumental, life-changing moments...but they are important because every time I either make a choice to please or displease my Father.
I am thinking of a moment last week at work when I lost my temper with a co-worker and replied with a very sharp reply that was not at all what should have come out of my mouth. I can rationalize my reply with the fact that I was tired, it had been a stressful week, and it was somewhat deserved by the other person's statement...but all of that is just what I started out saying it was...rationalization. The fact is that I, as a professed Christian, had a choice as to how to respond and I did not respond by the Spirit of God living in me. My words were purely my words, and they weren't lovely, gentle or kind.
Every day, with so many different situations, we have choices as to whether we will show the side of us that Satan is prompting us to exhibit, the side that is self-seeking and self-motivated or the side that God is always ready to empower in us through the light of His Spirit, the better way. The way that exhibits the fruit of His Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
I have an apology to make---and I hope that the next time that I feel tempted to respond so quickly with harshness, I take just a split-second to ask God to provide to me His way, to put words in my mouth that will be both pleasing to Him, and more effective, than my sharp tongue provided.
Temptations - all around us - big and small - but rather than looking at them as chances to fail, let's flip our perspective and see them as chances to please our Father by looking to Him for His provision.
Now - back to temptation - or rather, how not to fall into temptation. I don't know about you, but for me every day brings with it times that give me the choice of succumbing to my human side or of living by the Spirit that resides within me. Galatians 5:17 let's us know that this is a constant struggle between our two natures, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." Not all of these times are huge, monumental, life-changing moments...but they are important because every time I either make a choice to please or displease my Father.
I am thinking of a moment last week at work when I lost my temper with a co-worker and replied with a very sharp reply that was not at all what should have come out of my mouth. I can rationalize my reply with the fact that I was tired, it had been a stressful week, and it was somewhat deserved by the other person's statement...but all of that is just what I started out saying it was...rationalization. The fact is that I, as a professed Christian, had a choice as to how to respond and I did not respond by the Spirit of God living in me. My words were purely my words, and they weren't lovely, gentle or kind.
Every day, with so many different situations, we have choices as to whether we will show the side of us that Satan is prompting us to exhibit, the side that is self-seeking and self-motivated or the side that God is always ready to empower in us through the light of His Spirit, the better way. The way that exhibits the fruit of His Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
I have an apology to make---and I hope that the next time that I feel tempted to respond so quickly with harshness, I take just a split-second to ask God to provide to me His way, to put words in my mouth that will be both pleasing to Him, and more effective, than my sharp tongue provided.
Temptations - all around us - big and small - but rather than looking at them as chances to fail, let's flip our perspective and see them as chances to please our Father by looking to Him for His provision.
1 comment:
Each day brings warfare against evil. Never stopping, but we are on the winning side with Christ. It is important to show ourselves in the light of God. We profess our faith and we must show to others that we live by our faith. Temptations are around every corner. As we battle, we have a Savor. Christ understands and He is present in all moments - always loving and forgiving. This busy time of year really tests our behavior and our faith. So easy to get caught up in all of the hustle and bustle. God provides.
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