Galatians 5: 22-23 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
If you think someone's too nice, maybe God's trying to show you how to be nicer.
If you think someone's too laid back, maybe God wants you to relax a little.
If you think someone's too opinionated, maybe He's showing you how to stand up for what you believe.
If you think someone is too offensive, maybe He's showing you how to be more tolerant.
If you think someone's too religious, maybe He's trying to show you that you need Him.
If you think someone is too goofy, maybe God's trying to show you how to laugh.
If you think someone is too ugly, maybe He's trying to show you where to find true beauty.
If you think someone's too sensitive, maybe He's trying to show you how to be more compassionate.
If you think someone's too slow, maybe He's showing you how to be more patient.
If you think someone's unlovable, maybe He's trying to show you how to love them anyway.
I was watching a Joyce Meyer special the other day(months after I wrote the above). The lesson is about our consciences, but towards the end she spoke about how she used to be one of those Christians. You know the ones. They are always concerned with what everyone else is doing, or NOT doing. Always finding something to complain about. Sometimes they are like a tornado of destruction! She didn't realize until later that she had all of this uneasiness about what others were doing, but that "pit in the stomach" feeling came from her relationship with God. She had to ask Him, "God, what is not right between US?" Once she realized that the lack of peacefulness she was feeling was between her and God, she no longer had to worry about what everyone else was doing. All she had to focus on was her relationship with Him. Was she honoring Him? If she didn't and if she sinned against him, that uneasy feeling would return. When that feeling returned to her, she would say to God "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me." We also need to realize that sometimes our sins against God can many times be our wrongdoings against others. See, our lack of inner peace comes from that too, because God intends us to live out the fruit of the Spirit. If we offend someone, or hurt them, all we have to do is say "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me." No excuses!
Wow! What an "ah-ha!" moment! We ALL fall short. True peacefulness within comes when we are right with God! Look within!
If you would like to see Joyce's special, The Voice of Conscience, it can be found here.
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