This week I met with my two dear friends in our accountability group (see previous post) and talked about our need to let God deal with us in solitude. However, I neglected to follow my own advice. Today became a dark day for me today. A cloud of latent anger, hostility and restlessness was looming over me. I knew I had to run to God, but seemed to be able to find no quiet place to do it. My dh suggested I get out of the house. After some shopping and lunch on my own, no change. Every noise my kids made tried my patience. I wondered if I was prone to depression.
This happens every once in a while and, in hindsight, it is imperative that I let others know, but I often feel I can put it off, because there are just things that I should do. I fail to clearly express what I need because the routine must go on. Meanwhile, I hurt others with my impatience and lack of peace. The frustration builds until my body cannot rest, my calm is lost and I can find joy in nothing. A pain pierces the side of my head and I know I’ve let go of my self-control. I call it the spiritual flu. You can try to cure it with cover-ups like a shopping trip or a day to yourself, but the real cure is to run to the All-Sufficient One.
Sometimes He waits and I run a different direction, yet I know I am desperate for His presence. I need to act more quickly, recognize the symptoms earlier and communicate to my family that I need to reconnect with God in solitude, by myself, with no one around. I am reminded that scheduled solitude is the lifeline of my soul. Because I’d let myself get physically anxious, I began with exercise to get out my frustration and then was able to sit in the quiet and listen for God’s voice (of correction).
I’m not a person who neglects my Bible, so reading on a daily basis is not the only thing we need to stay spiritually healthy. We need the presence of God, the healing, energizing, peace-giving presence. I had to let it search me and address what was lurking inside so I could let it go. Our Father knows us so well. Within a few minutes, it was gone and I was free again. Sometimes, in spite of what we know about God, we need to just sit in His presence.
My peace was restored.
Today as I worked on scheduling academics for the new year, I also know that my alone time with my Father is the one thing that will make or break the whole tone of my home. “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.”
Showing posts with label anger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anger. Show all posts
Saturday, January 3
Sunday, December 28
What's in Your Emotional Suitcase?
Do you have a child who drives you crazy? Does your child continually annoy you? No, probably not. But, do you annoy YOURSELF when you don't show them the grace and love that God shows you?
A simple daily activity like math can be a reminder of the fear of failure you felt as a child. Sometimes we snap and bite at our kids not because they deserve it, but because we have unresolved anger and bitterness that is triggered by something they do. Our own hurts are hurting our children and their children... and their children.
It is critical that we “come clean” of the hurts and hostilities that still live within us. The things that we’ve done or had done to us are not who we are and they don’t have to continue to cloud our world . If we allow ourselves to accept that God is “crazy about us” then we can truly forgive those who may have caused us emotional damage. Jesus came that we may have life “to the full,” not to the half. Don’t let him take over half you heart, give it all to him.
How can you let go of hurts? Hurts like abuse, rape, feelings of inadequacy, or a lack of love from parents or a spouse. Some of us may need to seek out a Christian counselor to get deeper into the root of our problems. Some may not even know they have hurts affecting their behavior. Here is one way to begin the healing process:
We must also forgive ourselves for not making the most of all of our opportunities. Every day is an opportunity and every opportunity a chance to shine for God. Perhaps we are pushing our children to be who we feel we are not.
People are not perfect, God IS perfect. The love of Christ is perfect. It surpasses anything we can imagine, but we can feel it and know it deeply and in a healing way.
Proverbs 14:10
“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.”
This is what Your God says (paraphrasing mine):
John 3:16
“For God SO LOVED the world
Inspired by "The Mentoring Mom: 11 Ways to Model Christ for Your Child" by Jackie Kendall. I highly recommend this book to all who want to show your children a pattern that leads to a life walk with God.
It is critical that we “come clean” of the hurts and hostilities that still live within us. The things that we’ve done or had done to us are not who we are and they don’t have to continue to cloud our world . If we allow ourselves to accept that God is “crazy about us” then we can truly forgive those who may have caused us emotional damage. Jesus came that we may have life “to the full,” not to the half. Don’t let him take over half you heart, give it all to him.
How can you let go of hurts? Hurts like abuse, rape, feelings of inadequacy, or a lack of love from parents or a spouse. Some of us may need to seek out a Christian counselor to get deeper into the root of our problems. Some may not even know they have hurts affecting their behavior. Here is one way to begin the healing process:
- Go to your Father, your Creator, in quiet. Let him search your soul for the roots of bitterness, anxiety, anger or fear.
- Ask God to show you what needs to be let go.
- Listen with paper and pen in hand. Write down what comes to your head. Write until nothing else comes.
- Read that list. (If it is too weighty for you alone, seek a counselor.)
- Face what is on it. Forgive and let yourself be forgiven!
We must also forgive ourselves for not making the most of all of our opportunities. Every day is an opportunity and every opportunity a chance to shine for God. Perhaps we are pushing our children to be who we feel we are not.
People are not perfect, God IS perfect. The love of Christ is perfect. It surpasses anything we can imagine, but we can feel it and know it deeply and in a healing way.
Proverbs 14:10
“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.”
God is crazy about you!
How do we know?
God wants us to know truth.
He is incapable of lying.
John 3:16
“For God SO LOVED the world
- (you and every person in it)
that he sent his only begotten Son
Talk with your children. Ask for their forgiveness for times when you've been unjust. Don’t invite them into all the hurt and restate it for them, just let them know you had some troubles and that Jesus sets us free because he shows us how to forgive. Your kids are not your enemy. Satan is your enemy and he'll use whatever bitterness is left in you to pass misery onto future generations.
You have the keys to that jail cell, now let yourself out!
- (the Word, present at the time of creation, who changed form to become human and experience our every temptation)
- (accepts his gift of love, trusts him in their every moment)
- (nothing can take you away from him)
- (an abundant life which gets more incredible day by day, and even improves at death, when we come into the the light radiating from a God so holy and loving that we will be overcome with joy and completeness.)
Talk with your children. Ask for their forgiveness for times when you've been unjust. Don’t invite them into all the hurt and restate it for them, just let them know you had some troubles and that Jesus sets us free because he shows us how to forgive. Your kids are not your enemy. Satan is your enemy and he'll use whatever bitterness is left in you to pass misery onto future generations.
You have the keys to that jail cell, now let yourself out!
****************************************************
Inspired by "The Mentoring Mom: 11 Ways to Model Christ for Your Child" by Jackie Kendall. I highly recommend this book to all who want to show your children a pattern that leads to a life walk with God.
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