Growing in Grace

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. -Proverbs 15:22 We need to not be too proud or afraid to seek godly counsel. We need others. We need the Lord. We need to always keep in mind when making decisions about various matters the following things: -Is it wise? -Is it right? -Is it fair to others? -Does it line up with Scripture? -From  The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional  by Debbi Bryson; May 20; p. 147

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. -Ephesians 5:1 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. -Proverbs 15:18 I read these two verses in two separate devotions on the same day. They complimented one another very well though. Because God is self-controlled, He wants us to be self-controlled and to follow the example He sets for us. We shouldn't push people "to get over it." We need to allow others time to calm down when something upsetting occurs. We need to stay calm ourselves, forgive and keep the door open. We need to pray and be patient. As a mom, this was particularly convicting. I often get impatient and hot-tempered with my child's hot-temperedness! And I have been known to say "get over it." These were both good reminders to take a breath. Pray. Give the kids time to calm down. And then speak carefully and patiently with understanding. -Proverbs devotio

Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. -2 Timothy 2:4 Photo Credit A soldier has to give up many things. Some of them are bad things (pride, independence, self-will), and some of them are good things (his home, his family). Nevertheless, if a soldier is not willing to give up these things, he is not a soldier at all. The things that might entangle a soldier might be good or bad for a civilian. The soldier can't ask if something is good or bad for those who are not soldiers; he must give up anything that gets in the way of being a good soldier or serving his commanding officer. A faithful soldier does not have the right to do anything that will entangle them and make them less effective as a soldier. If Timothy did not endure hardship and if he did not put away the things that entangle him in the affairs of this life, he would not be pleasing to his Commanding Officer. Jesus Christ is the com

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. -Ephesians 4:31-32 These verses are telling us to: -Receive God's forgiveness. -Be humbled by God's grace daily. -Live a changed life. -Confess anger. -Ask the Holy Spirit to control your mind and emotions. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. -C.S. Lewis

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helping for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. -Ephesians 4:29 Photo Credit The Christian not only stops saying unwholesome things; he also begins to say things that will help build others up. -NIV study notes Rather than using your words to tear down others, use them to build up others. -Bible.org There is the old saying, "If you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything at all." But I think we are being told here to replace the negative, unkind words we feel like saying with positive, encouraging ones. In other words, don't remain silent, say something nice instead.

Photo Credit A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -John 13:34-35 This command was presented in a fresh, new way. The Old Testament said to love your neighbor as yourself; but this new law said to love your brethren better than yourself and to be willing to sacrifice for them. The extent of love displayed by Jesus on the cross was a new example of love. Love is the mark of the fellowship of true believers, and all other criteria are strictly secondary. -David Guzik "O God, when I'm wrong, make me easy to change, and when I am right, make me easy to live with." -Peter Marshall When someone says something that could stir you up, don't bite the bait. Send up an arrow prayer: quickly ask the Lord to give you grace and wisdom and gentleness to navigate and not agitate. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me." "Thank

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. -Philippians 2:3-5 While Romans 8:28 is my life verse in that I can trust in its truth; the above verses are the ones I truly try to live by. As we put away our selfish ambitions, our conceit, and our tendencies to be high minded and self-absorbed, we will naturally have a greater concern for the interests and needs of others. And by doing this we will fulfill the two greatest laws - to love God and to love others.