Encouragement
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Proverbs 29:11
How many times have you flared up in anger and spoken before thinking? Or received a phone call that made your blood boil and you let loose? Or lost it with your spouse and the kids? For me, I’m sorry to say it’s so often only God can keep count, and thank Him that He isn’t!
I don’t mean to — honestly — I want to keep my cool, but then the kids disobey a direct order, or my spouse comes and immediately starts talking while I’m in the middle of something, or I get a rude email from some disgruntled person, and I know just what to say and how to say it so I can be cutting and mean. Before I know it my face is red and the volume is turned all the way to high, with no way to turn it down.
Scripture says the fool gives vent to his anger. Hold on, I have a College Degree — I’m nobody’s fool! But am I truly being wise when I let the situation, and my emotions run away with me? There’s a time to be angry, the Bible speaks very succinctly on that, but this verse refers to times where you let your feelings run roughshod over everybody, regardless of how they feel.
Admit it, there is a release that comes when you yell, there is satisfaction in thinking you outwitted, out-yelled and out-gunned some poor person, especially those nearest and dearest to you. But how long does that satisfaction last? Before too long, the reality of what was said comes back to haunt you.
There is hope, take it from one who regularly lost it with just about everyone!
Cultivate the art of listening, and I’m not talking hearing, but really listening to what the other person has to say. My kids sometimes have good reasons for not immediately doing what I ask. By listening, I don’t only diffuse a situation that could escalate, I also become a “safe” person; one they won’t be fearful to talk to in the future.
Think about what you’re going to say. There are occasions I must look like a goldfish as my mouth opens, shuts and opens again many times before I actually say something! But that’s all right — I would rather look like a gasping goldfish than sound like a screaming banshee!
Thinking before I speak is not always easy, and not something I’ve yet mastered, but I’m willing to learn. And that’s the key, the willingness to change and allow the Holy Spirit to guide me and lead me into truth and wisdom. I make a conscious choice to hand the situation over to Him and allow Him to guide me.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 2044 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Corinne Smelker or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 2044 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
Blessings -
Tam..
You definitely aint no fool! Very wise words - something we can ALL relate to (even Deb, who has proven herself to be Miss Calm and Collected - LOL) Thanks for posting. Love, Lynda
P.S. I loved the visual of a gasping goldfish :-)
Very practical lesson and well written. Thank you for the wisdom.