Have you ever been in the middle of being ugly to someone (perhaps not openly, but in your mind and heart) and the Lord sends you a gentle reminder that you need to chill?
I can’t be the only person this happens to.
It’s fine, though if I am. No, really.
So a couple days ago I was feeling stressed. There was a lot going on at work (I inadvertently caused someone else to feel bad at work by being careless- go me), some new things were happening- like life group online and sorting out how to interpret for our Deaf ministry over the interweb, my family still wanted fed (why do they eat EVERY DAY?), our dogs had destroyed one of their toys and the stuffing was all over the place (and my kids are mess-blind sometimes), two friends needed to talk to me on video chat, another friend had a serious question I was praying over, and church was in just three hours and I didn’t get five minutes to be quiet after I got home from work- just do, do, do.
My poor husband.
No, I mean it. I was rude to him. Dismissive. Visibly annoyed. He was trying to figure out how to get into the chat for the interpreted sermon, and I was ugly to him.
Jimmy, I’m sorry. ❤
While I was in the process of taking a deep breath (not to calm myself from exploding, but to emphasize to myself how annoying the rest of the world was), I may also have been rolling my eyes.
<ahem>
And that’s when they landed on this paint chip out of my bedroom wall. I am sure it’s been there since we moved in, and even though I sit in this same spot every morning for my devotions, I never noticed it.
I was immediately rebuked.
Because it’s a heart.
God was reminding me to love. To act toward others like He acts toward me. To not roll my eyes at humanity in general. To not act like I’m the only person who knows how to do anything. To be patient and calm and kind. To speak up gently when I need help instead of trying to do it all alone and then acting like a living martyr.
See, I can be ugly to those I love the most. Even though I’m in the Word every morning, if I don’t actually talk to the Lord and surrender my heart and life every day, the Word will be ineffective in my life, and the things that happened the other day will be my every day.
No thank you!
Luke 6:27-36
(27) But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
(28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
(29) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
(30) Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
(31) And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
(32) For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
(33) And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
(34) And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
(35) But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
(36) Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
If Jesus tells me to do all these kind things to those who I consider my enemies, how much more am I to do good to those that I say I LOVE? I ought to be walking in the Spirit of the Lord so that I don’t do the things my flesh so readily wants to do when I feel frustrated or annoyed.
Galatians 5:22-26
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(24) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
If I want to live like Christ, I need to give myself to Him every day. Every moment. Seeking to be like Him.
In these times it can be hard because we’re with each other 24/7. Lots of things we were looking forward to are canceled. Ways we used to blow off steam are no longer options. But we are called to love one another, not bite and devour each other.
Galatians 5:14-15
(14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(15) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
I want to love not just in word, but in deed. Lord help me surrender to You every day so I can love my family and those around me well.
Of Faith & Fortitude 
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