Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20ESV). A snake sheds its outer layer of skin because it is growing. The new skin is more flexible and vibrant. Shedding the snakeskin of anger may put you between a rock and a hard place. But it is necessary for you to emotionally mature, grow in your relationships, and enjoy the peace of God. Patience, which is the wisdom of restraint, stabilizes you when your frustration is at its tipping point. Tolerance does not disguise or deny your anger, but it holds you in check to overcome it. Discussions and questioning shou
Who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before (Mark 2:21 NLT). Jesus is your true source. He is pure, meek, and lowly. The burden He asks you to carry is light. It is easy to bear because He shoulders it with you. He is your partner to carry out his purposes for creating you. You are so much more than you think you are. You can expand your thinking by going beyond your mind. Jesus demands your life so you can find His presence. The real person you are can only arise in Jesus Christ. Surrendering your life to Him is of the most importance. He will show you who you are, the person God create
But when he came to himself…he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him (Luke 15:17-20) The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines presence as something (such as a spirit) felt or believed to be present, the neighborhood of one of superior, especially royal rank. God is Spirit; thereby, His presence is one unseen to the natural eye yet recognized and honored by his sons in their daily lives. We disengage with our Father when we discount His presence. Like Adam, we run from God when we sin because of shame. And again like, Adam, we think we can hide our shame from Him, which shows our
May grace (God's unmerited favor) and spiritual peace [which means peace with God and harmony, unity, and undisturbedness] be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:2 Amp). Where there is a way there is a will. Jesus is the way back to God but our will must surrender to find it. Scripture says, “Whosoever will let him come (Rev. 22:17)” happily the invitation for a restored life is for everyone but it can only happen if our will aligns with Jesus’. Sin has consequences to the way we think and act. Our willingness to surrender to Jesus diminishes when sin becomes “no big deal”. Blockages to God’s love and true image emerge through our stubbornness and rebellion. U
