FOODFORTHOUGHT

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are
still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26,27

Winter In My Heart

Where we live we boast we're having a dose of winter if the
temperature drops down into the fifties, which it did last week.
Within a few days we will no doubt be back with our tropical warm
winter weather. But recently, I felt as if it were winter in my heart,
big time.

I didn't realize I was harboring a resentment. You could not have
gotten me to admit I was even a smidgeon angry. However....I began to
notice thoughts, and critical remarks on the tip of my tongue, that
were less than kind. How subtle these destructive things are. How
casually anger and unforgiveness can seep out, like water in a pot
that is on a low heat and then boils over.

Fortunately something happened to jar me into reality. I began
examining what was going on inside, heart and head. I'd learned about
owning and taking responsibility for anger, for making a decision
regarding forgiveness of others as well as self, and how critical that
is in a spiritual faith walk.

So, even though I didn't really feel like it at the time, I made the
decision to forgive; also that I would put a watch on what I said.
Before long I began to notice a difference. The sting of anger was
missing; there was a change in my attitude. A difference in the way I
was seeing things, and then, naturally, in my speech. Spring had
sprung, no longer was it winter in my heart.

It's good to know we are not out on a limb by ourselves trying to do
something that's impossible, such as an attitude adjustment. When we
make a decision in line with God's word the Holy Spirit is more than
willing to help us. That's good news.

Below are a few Bible verses that have been helpful to me; sharing
them, below. Be assured, if they work for me, they will for you also:

` Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34
` He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Proverbs 21:23
` Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become
angry. James 1:19
` He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from
calamity. Proverbs 21:23 ` I have resolved that my mouth will
not sin. Psalm 17:3 ` Don't sin by letting anger control you;
Think about it overnight and remain silent . Psalm 4:4 ` In your
anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still
angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26,27` Set a
guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3

Inspirational messages by Sally I. Kennedy Sally I. Kennedy,
©2012 http://www.sallyikennedy.com

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/efoodforthought

Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought

GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com

DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.

© 2012 FoodForThought