“Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what they are doing…”
Luke 23:34
How do I develop
the self-control that allows my God given emotions to enhance my life and not
empower it?
Step one is to
learn to transition from reaction to reflection.
Do you fly off
the handle at the slightest provocation?
Do you escalate from
anger to violent rage faster than a lightning bolt?
Do you act first
and ask questions later?
These are all
symptoms of a person who reacts rather than reflects.
The person who
has learned to reflect takes the time to consider some things.
What response
will please God most?
How will my
actions bring honor to God?
If I respond in
this way does it hurt or help my witness for Christ?
Can I walk away
afterwards satisfied in my flesh or strengthened in my spirit based on my
behavior?
When you develop
self-control by reflecting rather than reacting the impact can be far reaching.
Consider the
lives of Sampson and Joseph.
Sampson always
seemed to be driven by his emotions.
This brought
about his destruction.
Joseph endured
great emotional hardships but through it he developed self-control.
Unlike Samson, Joseph’s
life was long and honorable, even though he was in Egypt!
Of course we
have no greater example than Jesus himself as he hung on the cross.
He could have
lashed out in anger at those who mocked Him and crucified Him.
Instead, we read
His words in today’s highlighted verse.
Don’t let anyone
fool you.
Jesus wasn’t
treated with kid gloves.
But even in His
unimaginable suffering, He still was not ruled by His emotions.
He reflected on
how His response might impact the eternity of those who heard Him.
Consider that
the next time you are ready to fly off the handle for some silly reason.
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