So......yesterday as I was reading a devotional I was knocked over by a piece of scripture. You see I have noticed lately that as I am renewing my mind to truths found in scripture there are some areas in my life that I am noticing have need to go.All of a sudden I am noticing a real shortness in temperament. Someone says something or does something and this volitale GRRRRRR! rises from within. I hate it! It repulses me--this darkness that is rising from deep inside me. Is it hormonal......maybe. Am I responsible for my hormonal reactions....oh yes!
Here is the verse.
Deut. 30:19-20--and it came by way of an on line devotional I get BTW.
"I offer you the choice of Life or Death, blessing or curse. Choose live and then you and your descendants will live: love the Lord your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him:
that is life for you."
What part of that verse got to me? Choose life/light. And of course I thought..Well, DUH! Who wouldn't chose life if they had the choice? But do I? Not lately when it comes to my mouth and my mind.that is life for you."
What would choosing life look like when I felt like giving a sarcastic response?
What would choosing life look like when someone asked me a question I had just answered?
What would choosing life look like when my daughter did something that got on my last nerve..again!?
So how do I choose life?
"Love the Lord my God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him."
Each time I am tempted to look into that black hole....and jump in......I will remember, by the Spirit that I love my God more than my flesh. He tells me that a slow answer turns away anger....so I will slow down and obey. And then when I realize that the situation is still not resolved...........I will hold fast to Him. I will cry out like a child lost in the dark. A child lost in the dark that wants to bring death......it wants to bury the glory of God in an angry, impatient response. Instead of passing this death on to my child and my husband.....I will choose life.
And the impatience that has been restricting my breathing-
the impatience that has been binding my mind and heart.......it will face DEATH instead of me.
Now after God had walked me through this I pulled out my study work for the day, flipped the page and I kid you not......this is what it said,
"6. God tells us in Deuteronomy 30: 11-20 that what He has commanded of us
is not too difficult. Write out Verses 19-20. Make sure to note the blessings for choosing life and what happens when you choose to disobey."
My response-what I wrote in my work book?
"O MY GOODNESS-Choose life-choose God!
In every decision choose for God and bring life/light into every situation!"
How cool is that?
God sent me an email, and just in case I did not think He was serious the first time.....He repeated Himself. ;)
Did I get it?
Dear God, I choose LIFE!
"Love the Lord my God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him."
Each time I am tempted to look into that black hole....and jump in......I will remember, by the Spirit that I love my God more than my flesh. He tells me that a slow answer turns away anger....so I will slow down and obey. And then when I realize that the situation is still not resolved...........I will hold fast to Him. I will cry out like a child lost in the dark. A child lost in the dark that wants to bring death......it wants to bury the glory of God in an angry, impatient response. Instead of passing this death on to my child and my husband.....I will choose life.
And the impatience that has been restricting my breathing-
the impatience that has been binding my mind and heart.......it will face DEATH instead of me.
Now after God had walked me through this I pulled out my study work for the day, flipped the page and I kid you not......this is what it said,
"6. God tells us in Deuteronomy 30: 11-20 that what He has commanded of us
is not too difficult. Write out Verses 19-20. Make sure to note the blessings for choosing life and what happens when you choose to disobey."
My response-what I wrote in my work book?
"O MY GOODNESS-Choose life-choose God!
In every decision choose for God and bring life/light into every situation!"
How cool is that?
God sent me an email, and just in case I did not think He was serious the first time.....He repeated Himself. ;)
Did I get it?
Dear God, I choose LIFE!
13 comments:
He never lets go. He will finish the good work He has begun in each of us.. and often it is first to be aware of our shortcomings more and more and more...funny how noticing our failures is a sign we are growing closer to God!
I am forever telling my sons the power of life and death...choose life....speak life to one another. Yet I know I fall short so often myself. You are not alone. Thanks for being so transparent. Somehow it helps to know we are not struggling alone in our battle against self.
and then sometimes we discover we are human after all. In my heart, I strongly believe that when we do blow it by spouting off at the mouth when we have no business doing so, it's vital that we go the one we have wronged, irregardless of how old/young they are and apologize. I think there's valuable lessons tucked inside those confessions don't you?
Well, my dear, this post was quite timely for me. I've spouted off at the mouth to my loved ones when I would never do that to my friends. It really pains me to see this about myself, and at my age (52) it needs to die..these fleshly responses. Like you, I want to choose His life instead. I think we respond to people & circumstances in proportion to how much we're abiding in Him...and for me, the abiding needs to be continual. Also, it helps to think before I speak:-)
Such a rich post, Sharon. Good truth here for us to feed from and learn. God bless you.
I love when God does that! He lights up something and makes it fresh and new for today. Thank you for sharing this truth, Sharon. I am trying to apply it.
Sorry I haven't been commenting lately. My computer has been locking up every time I try to leave a comment on your blog. I had a great birthday story and tried to send it 10 times and it just wouldn't go. Oh well.
Love you and am praying!
Holly
YAY! It went through this time!
Amen sis.
Amen sis.
I love when He does that too...just like an amazing aha moment is pretty cool. Keep seeking Him...
OOh that's cool! You choose that life, it's better than the grr :)
Well, I was all like, "look Sharon wrote down some of my favourite verses. I am glad that she was spoken to by them"...and then I read the part about patience when you have been asked a question more than once, and children doing things that get on your last nerve, and bing- an arrow straight to MY heart! I thought that this was going to be about you, but God used it to point out TRUTH that I need to apply to my life. Thank you!
Sharon,
My temper has been likened to Peter's. Remember how he cut the ear from the soldier in the Garden? Well, when I lose my temper, it comes fast and hot. I am always ashamed afterwards but it just seems to explode like a volcano at times. Thank God this doesn't happen often and I've really been working on this shameful trait. But God knows me and He knows that I hate this quirk of mine. I hope that I can overcome it. I am usually very mild mannered but when the temper flares, it is lightning hot.
It always seems that God sends a message through your teachings. Thank you for being my teacher through Him.
Blessings for a great weekend.
Mary
Oh Sharon...this is so good....
Oh my my....my mouth has done me in so many times and it really has to do with how "close" I am with the Lord.....isn't this stupid...I mean we have everything at our disposal and why oh why would we choose death...but we do time and time again...wow...need to chew on this again and again...I really need it...thanks my sis...
Oh I got my friendship ball...how neat is that....I hid it from Amy so on Christmas it will be such a surprise...I think we can have such a neat time with this...and keep it in the family for years....you are super sweet for this my sister....love ya
Yeah - God is just like that. He will get His point across if we are struggling with something.
Thank you for sharing, Sharon.
Be blessed today and always...
Post a Comment