Run Under His Wings
August 19, 2011
Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger."
Had anyone "push your buttons" lately? Or have you felt like mouthing off in the last day or two? Or raised your voice at your kids this week? I have. How did it go? First, I started blurting out what was on my mind, then I got all hyper, my eyes got all big, my arms were flailing. Then I walked away, calmed down and said to myself, "that's not okay, Lord help me!". His response, just "speak, don't freak".
When we respond to people in a negative way over a certain situation, it's not because they caused us to be that way. Our response simply reveals what's going on inside of us, that we still have issues in that area. Issues that need resolved before that thing comes back around again (oh yes, it will be back!).
When you find yourself in the middle of a fiery situation, remember this…we each carry two buckets with us wherever we go, one with gasoline and one with water. When the fire is raging and tempers are being stoked, you can either pour gasoline on it and enflame the situation, or you can pour water on it and quench that ugly thing. You can freak or speak. If you freak, everyone gets burned. If you speak a soft answer, the peace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit is present to work through you.
God wants us to change those natural instincts, those habits, those automatic reactions when we feel pressured, agitated, misunderstood, frustrated, incompetent, or offended. How? By the grace of God, His ability working in us. Why? For His name's sake, to show the world around us the love of the Father. So the next time you want to freak (or even if you let a little freak slip out), simply speak, and watch what a soft answer can do.
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