Malice Vice

 

Malice – a desire to harm, hurt or get even with someone.  Although I may not have ever desired to actually harm someone, getting even with someone?  Well, that is a different story.  We have discussed anger, the feeling that burns inside of you when you have been wronged.  Rage is the outburst that happens, our mouth takes over and says things out of anger.  Malice moves towards intent.  You want ill on the person.  You may want some sort of revenge or may even silently rejoice when the person suffers.  Have you ever felt that way?

I am not happy to admit it, but in my lifetime, I have experienced malice.  Thinking back upon those times, I am deeply ashamed of that feeling.  Often, we believe it is ‘justified’ to feel malice.  The person hurt us so much that our hearts and souls were broken.  They deserve what they get, and I hope it is something bad!  Although I may not have outwardly shared those words (maybe I have), I have certainly thought those words.  Have you?  Have malice thoughts crossed your mind?

Friends, isn’t it wonderful that we have a loving and forgiving Lord?  He has given us the perfect example of how we should respond when someone hurts us so deeply.  Think about all those close to Jesus who hurt Him and how He responded with humility and love.  One of the greatest examples of this would be Judas.  Judas betrayed Jesus and brought the soldiers to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus knew this long before the Last Supper and when He washed the disciples’ feet.  Yet, He did not single Judas out.  He did not show malice to Judas.  He showed humility by washing Judas’ feet and continued to love Judas to the end.   

The next time the urge to seek revenge on another comes to our hearts, may we remember our Jesus.  Replacing thoughts of malice with humility and love can be difficult.  It is hard to forgive someone to the point of kindness, yet that is what our Lord showed us.  If Jesus can show humility and love to the disciple who gave Him up for death, I can certainly try to show kindness to someone who hurts me.  When we do that, I am certain the Holy Spirit will fill our souls with peace.  The peace of wishing good versus harm can permeate your heart and become a blessing.  This is not easy, but it is possible – with the grace of God and simple faith!

Video that complements this post:  Malice Vice

Heavenly Lord, please replace malice with kindness in my soul.  May the situation that hurt me so much be turned around.  Help me to see goodness in the other person and be a model that walks in your light.  Bring me peace through the kindness shown.  Amen!

Rage Vice

 

This morning when I was watching the news, a story of road rage came on.  Two people stopped right in the middle of a highway, got out of their cars, and proceeded to barad each other and then damaged each other’s cars.  Rage takes anger to an entirely different level.  When I think of rage, either mine or others, I see red faces, flanging arms, burrowed brows, standing tall, and lips filled with angry words.  Rage is the outward expression of anger that encompasses yelling words and showing explosive behavior. 

As Paul asks us to rid ourselves of the vices listed above, rage is outwardly powerful.  I have experienced rage towards me; it was one of the most frightening experiences of my life!  I was scared – scared mentally and scared for my physical being.  This incident happened decades ago, but it has stayed with me all this time.  Rage has a way of hanging on.  Experiences of rage are not easily forgotten.  The same holds true when we show rage in a situation.  Although it may not be often, I am certain that I have had moments of impulsive outbursts that have embedded their ways into people’s memories as well.  This is behavior I am not proud of and have asked for forgiveness from those I offended and from God.  Rage is an emotion that can be contained and responded to differently.

Self-control, a fruit of the spirit, is a way for us to contain rage.  Our ability to NOT lash out but to control our responses to another in a combative situation is what Paul is asking of us.  This means that we have to change the response from demeaning words and explosive actions to thoughtful words and respectful actions.  How can we do this when we are so angry we want to “spit nails”?  In walks our Holy Spirit!

Friends, when anger fills us up and rage is upon us, we need to step back.  Often, this can take the form of actually stepping away from the situation.  Gaining perspective, breathing while counting to ten (or maybe fifty) can lead to a vastly different response than shooting words towards the one you are angry with - words you cannot take back.    While stepping away, it is time to have a conversation.  Not a conversation with the person you are angry with, but a conversation with God.  This is your opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to step in and relinquish your anger for self-control.  This is the time to let the Holy Spirit know you need help and to remove the rage you are feeling.  Asking for help in this manner is why God is within us – helping us and guiding us to better decisions. 

When anger is getting the better of us and rage is gaining control, remember to call upon our Lord.  He knows our flaws.  He knows our sinful nature.  He is ready and waiting for us to call upon Him for help in all situations – even those of anger.  Have Simple Faith that He is available to us at all hours to help us and rid us of the vice of rage!

Video that complements this post: Rage Vice

Dearest Lord, please remove rage from my heart.  Take away the moments where I want to explode in anger and replace them with self-control and respectful words.  Fill my heart, Lord, with your grace and mercy.  Amen!

Anger Vice

 

Coming off our series of the Fruits of the Spirit and how we can expand the positive behaviors in our lives, I thought it would be appropriate for us to also explore the vices we should remove from our lives.  For this we will be exploring Colossian 3:8. The first vice to explore will be anger.

Have you experienced anger, deep-rooted anger?  The kind that quickly builds to a level of resentment to a person or a situation.  Unfortunately, I have.  It has reared its ugly head on numerous occasions.  It could be when people have hurt me or disappointed me and my heart cannot believe this person responded (or did not respond) in the manner I anticipated.  Anger is mostly seen as an ‘internal’ attitude that hangs on. 

I have felt this in my life, and it changed the way I was responding to all people around me and my ability to find happiness and joy.  I would not let it go, and the anger built up inside in such a manner I had difficulty sleeping.  I often said to myself, “Let it go!”  My mind knew that it was the right thing to do, but my heart felt different.  The resentment was building, and I could feel it! 

My friends, the only way I moved on from this anger was to go to Jesus.  As Paul shared with the Colossians, we need to rid ourselves of these vices – starting with anger.  I was not able to do this on my own.  In walks prayer!  I prayed – and prayed and prayed.  Over time, I felt the burden of the anger I was carrying lifting.  I felt Jesus walking into my heart and healing it.  The Holy Spirit replaced my anger with peace.  Yes, when I think of the situation, I can feel my blood begin to boil a bit – yet I also can replace the anger with the sense of peace knowing that it is out of my control and in Jesus’ hands.

Our goal should be not getting that angry in the first place.  Easier said than done!  Coming to these occasions with a praying heart of calmness and control versus anger and resentment brings us closer to the person Jesus wants us to be.  How do we do that?  I find that when a situation arises where I begin to feel anger, I either step away or slow down and say a prayer.  Something like, “Jesus, I need you right now.  Help me to replace the anger I am feeling with a sense of calm.  Show me a way to respond as you would Jesus, with patience and control.” 

The Book of Proverbs offers many opportunities for us to put words on our hearts for anger situations.  One of my favorites is: 

"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."  Proverbs 14:29

Friends, let us pursue a sense of patience in troubling scenarios.  May our responses mirror those of Jesus.  Have Simple Faith He will always be there for us!

Video that complements this post:  Anger Vice

Jesus, we need you.  Stand with us as we enter situations where anger may take over.  May we respond with a sense of patience and calm.  In your name we pray, Amen!

Fruit of Self-Control

 

Our Fruits of the Spirit journey is coming to an end with self-control.  This ‘fruit’ has always been close to my heart.  Perhaps it is due to the fact that I can’t get away from this being about me, with self in the actual word!  Self-control comes into many facets and phases in one’s life.  I typically associate myself with a healthy eating program and self-control.  Often, I set my sights on ensuring I eat properly, especially as I age.  I find that my desire to have ice cream every day and sticking to my healthy eating program is definitely about self-control.  There are days when I am more successful than others.

Yet, self-control falls into many other aspects of my life, and I’m assuming yours as well. 

·         Words – do I have control over the words that come out of my mouth?  Are they words that are uplifting for those around me and not judgmental?  “The tongue has the power of life and death.”  Proverbs 18:21

·         Actions – are my actions aligned with what Jesus has planned for me?  Am I acting and reacting in away that is pleasing to Jesus?  “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Colossians 3:17

·         Thoughts – what are you thinking?  Is what you are thinking about true to God?  “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right…think about such things.”  Philippians 4:8

·         Temptation – what are you tempted by?  There is much in this world that tempts us every day.  Are we quick to anger?  Does the gossip pool include you?  Are there other ways that you are tempted that do not align with God’s plan for your life?  “…God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

Friends, the beauty of the Fruits of the Spirit is that the Holy Spirit is with us for each and every one listed.  He is there to help sustain us and our efforts to live our best lives in Jesus.  Our job is to remember this and to rely on Him and the power that He has inside of us to live with self-control. 

We have discussed much on all the Fruits of the Spirit.  In doing so, one may think, “Great, how do I live a life filled with all these good things?”  It comes from a place of humility.  It comes from fully understanding that we are sinners and we cannot do this on our own.  Praying for the Holy Spirit to show up in our lives, to guide us on the paths that Jesus has for us, and doing so with all of the Fruits of the Spirit by our side will greatly assist our goal of living the life for Jesus.  What we need to have is Simple Faith!!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Self-Control

I’d like to thank Mary for suggesting this series.  I hope all have found it beneficial.  It certainly opened my eyes!

Holy Spirit, please give me the fruit of self-control throughout my day.  May I be reminded you are in me, guiding me, and helping to hold me accountable.  Amen!

Fruit of Gentleness

 

Ahhh, to be gentle and receive gentleness.   I know there are many times over the years I wished I were treated with more gentleness and, quite frankly, even more times that I wished I had shown gentleness.  As a Fruit of the Spirit, gentleness can be explored in a variety of aspects, all of them intertwined to offer a sense of compassion, humility, and calmness.  To provide gentleness in a situation is a behavior that one needs to be cognizant of and to practice.

The greatest factor impacting gentleness is an ability to respond to a situation without pride.  This does not mean that we should not share our opinion or belief, but it does mean doing so in a manner that does not demean or belittle the person with whom we are communicating.  We need to leave the harsh words at the door and replace them with words of grace and love.  We need to suppress the facial expressions of anger and replace them with expressions of worth and value.  There are a variety of scenarios where gentleness can be seen.

Response to mistakes: How do you respond when someone makes mistakes?  Do you ‘come at them’ with wild eyes and harsh words?  When we approach people that way, we often find ourselves regretting our behavior.  This response can ruin relationships quickly.  When we respond with gentleness, and the understanding that people make mistakes and are not perfect, we come to the situation with a sense of humility.  We have made our fair share of mistakes as well. Leave your pride and move forward with gentleness – in words and behavior.

Sharing of beliefs:  Here is a news flash – not everyone is going to have the same opinions and beliefs as you do!  We see that play out every day in the media.  Disagreements over beliefs that not only end in harsh words but violence.  God wants us to show people the path to heaven, but to do so with a sense of gentleness.  Peter says the following when Christians are called to speak the truth of Jesus, “… Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect…”         1 Peter 3:15. Preaching God’s word is effective when we live by the gentleness Fruit of the Spirit.

There are many more opportunities for us to live out gentleness in our lives.  Our body language alone can portray a sense of gentleness – responding to people with a smile, kind eyes, and wearing your love for humanity on your sleeve.  Our words can be the greatest expressions of gentleness – leaving unkind and bitter words behind and replacing them with words of uplifting and grace.  Gentleness does not mean we have to be meek, but it does mean that we can show calmness and compassion, regardless of the situation.  If this is a ‘fruit’ that you need to work on, take a few moments before responding to people.  This is about these verses, and know that the Holy Spirit is in you, working on gentleness.  Have Simple Faith!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Gentleness

Holy Spirit, thank you for your help with my gentleness.  May I respond to those around me with a gentle approach, letting them know unconditionally that you are working in me and through me for all goodness.  Amen!

Fruit of Faithfulness

 

Our Fruit of the Spirit journey takes us to faithfulness.  As I reflected on this ‘fruit’, a hard reality came to mind.  The world we are in today doesn’t promote faithfulness.  You have a favorite restaurant that you have been faithful to for years that receives some ‘less than stellar’ reviews and you may choose another establishment.  You have been faithful to a car brand for years, but ‘the one over there’ is shinier and has more features.  You have been faithful attending the same church for years, but you are growing tired of the preaching on the Bible and want them to be more open to society today.  Lastly, in a more disheartening way, the spouse you have been faithful to for years has become ‘boring’. 

Our world today seems to have us searching for the ‘new and shiny’ instead of holding on to a sense of faithfulness.  This can be apparent in many different scenarios.  I have had to self-reflect on this myself.  Are there areas in my life where I am shedding faithfulness for the next shiny thing?  Friends, we need to ensure we always keep our faithfulness to the One and Only, our Lord.  We need to ensure we are faithful to him and the path He has laid in front of us.  We can wrestle with this level of faithfulness when we don’t believe God is walking with us during challenging times or He is not responding the way we think God should.  He has, and will continue to be, faithful to us.  Let us evaluate our behaviors and actions to the words of the Bible that show us how faithful our God is.

·         “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love.”  Deuteronomy 7:9

·         “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

·         “If we are faithless, He remains faithful.”  2 Timothy 2:13

·         “He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.” 1 John 1:9

God never leaves us or forsakes us, regardless of our waywardness or grave sins.  He is faithful to us, and we need to ensure the fruit of faithfulness that the Holy Spirit gives to us is front and center in our faithfulness to Him.  God is good, ALL THE TIME!  It may not seem like that when the life we are living here on earth is filled with despair.  Yet, I promise you, God’s goodness for you will never waiver.  He is faithful to us each and every day in whatever we may be facing.  He loves each and every one of us and when we reflect on that love, that unconditional love, we will see His faithfulness shine.  Let our faithfulness for Him shine in all we do!  Have simple faith that our faithfulness in God will always yield great blessings – and eternal life!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Faithfulness

Holy Spirit, light the fire of faithfulness within me.  May my faith in God and all He brings to my life never wander.  May all that I meet know of my faithfulness to Jesus, and the abundance that He brings to me each day.  Amen!

Fruit of Goodness

 

Here we are again, my friends, on our Fruits of the Spirit journey.  This week has our reflection pointed to goodness.  Often, kindness and goodness can be seen as similar.  Yet, the difference is between you and me.  How so?  Kindness is what we show and how we treat others – YOU.  Goodness is how I behave, actioning what is right and with a level of integrity – ME. 

Goodness offers us the opportunity to not only be nice to others but to also do what is right.  I can hear y’all saying, “Of course, I do what is right, Susan!”  I believe, if we truly self-examine, we may find that our actions are not always what is right or good.  To act with a level of integrity, a level of goodness, can be easier said than done.  Our actions, as much what we do as what we do not do, dictate how we live our lives.  What does goodness look like in the eyes of Jesus?

·         Honesty: Living our lives with honesty at the forefront.  Honesty needs to begin with us.  This means looking at ourselves, our gaps, and having a sense of humility that we have areas where we sin, and where we need to be better – for God and ourselves.

·         Integrity: Doing what we say we are going to do.  If we sit in a pew on Sunday morning and profess that we are Christians and do what is right, then our actions as we leave the church doors should reflect that.  Taking a strong look at this may reveal this is easier said than done.

·         Stand Firm: Standing up for what is right.  It takes a lot to be the ‘one person’ to stand up for what is right.  It is much easier to go along with the crowd.  Nobody modeled this better for us than Jesus.  He always stood up for the righteous thing, the Godly thing, those who were not able to stand up for themselves.  This is incredibly difficult to achieve.

The above examples of goodness are not easy.  Challenging ourselves to truly reflect on our actions as they are described above may lead us to realize we have work to do.  We SHOULD have work to do!  We are sinners, my friends.  The only way we will be able to move forward in goodness is by the grace of God.  Jesus walks with us every day to help us attain the goodness for which we are striving.  Living in goodness will feel good.  When we are honest about our gaps and work towards being better; when we live with integrity every day; when we stand up for a situation so it will mirror what Jesus wants – all those examples will provide you with goodness in your soul.  Let us step up, in simple faith, that we can do this – with the grace of the One who can help us – Jesus!

Video that complements this post:  Fruit of Goodness

Holy Spirit, be with me as I work to integrate goodness into my life.  Let my actions reflect the love that I have for Jesus and that He has for me.  May goodness radiate from me and ensure that I am living the life I want to live for Jesus.  Amen!