The First Draft - September 15
URL:http://www.turningpointradio.org/devo.html
A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention.
Proverbs 15:18
RECOMMENDED READING
Colossians 3:8-17
It's been said that 90% of the friction in daily life is caused by the wrong tone of voice. So how can we avoid feeling resentful and causing resentment in others? One example is Abraham Lincoln. When he had to write a letter to someone who had irritated him, he would often write two letters. The first letter was deliberately insulting. Then, having gotten those feelings out of his system, he would tear it up and write a second letter, this one tactful and discreet.
When you have resentment in your heart, the one thing you need more than anything else is God's grace. You need to ask for the refinement that He alone can give you to enable you to deal with that which has hurt you. Part of the refining process is putting to use the many constructive ways of dealing with your anger and disappointment. Try writing a first draft of a letter or email, or rehearsing the conversation. When you give yourself a chance to vent, usually the anger dissipates; and you'll be able to get the initial reactions out of your system. The Bible tells us that we are to love one another, and one way we can show that love is by sorting out our anger, with God's grace, before dealing with those who have offended us.
Turning Point
Lord, give me the grace to deal with any resentment I feel in a way that is pleasing to You. |
