Delighting In The Process

I was once told that God wants me to delight in the process of working with people. Joyfully sowing seeds of God's ways into their lives, teaching them the commands of Jesus with patience, gentleness, mercy and grace. This is easier said than done. In fact, I can't do it in my own power. I must give myself to The Holy Spirit's leading completely, allowing God to use me not as I might desire to be used but use me however He chooses. That type of Christianity is a witness to other people. I discovered that I could be "born again" yet choose to fight for "my rights". But if I yield my perceived rights to God, He is then free to operate through me at a level that I could never have imagined. If I'm yeilding my personal rights to God and operating under His authority in His will, then I have nothing to be angry about because He is working all things for my good.

I Blew It

Beginning Saturday afternoon I started having a bad attitude. I began focussing on the little annoying things about my wife. I started trying to change her ways and this began a cycle of argumentation and anger that destroyed the mood of my household all the way through Sunday afternoon. The saddest part of the whole thing is that I KNOW better.I counsel other men to avoid this trap. To enter the presence of their family members with praise as often as possible. To avoid criticism, condemnation, and blaming. But there I was doing it all wrong and feeling like a hypocrite.

Oh Lord, help me to live what I teach. Give me grace to respond to irritaions with Love, Joy, Peace, and Patience. Give my wife the grace to forgive and encourage her that this shall pass and you are working on me still. Amen.

Gratefulness

Being grateful is a key to anger resolution. Changes my focus to the good things in life and the blessings that I have.