My reactions can be different!

Today's Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21

Thought for the Day: "Refusing to come unglued is the only way to prove to ourselves it is possible to have a different kind of reaction."

So again...we're back to choices. Choosing how to react in the face of things/people that frustrate us, anger us, make us feel less worthy. While many of these negative feelings are easy go-to feelings that we all have...and are normal to have...we have the opportunity to change our perspective on how we handle them. 

I have to catch myself when I start to wallow in the negative reactions which can send my life into  crazy, ugly chaos. I have to stop myself from believing the worst in myself. I have to pray and turn to God and remind myself that He made me in His image. God doesn't make garbage...I turn myself into it by not listening to Him. 

So I have to be more aware of my reactions...think about them and find the positive side to whatever the negative is. Change my perspective...change my reaction. Refuse to become unglued. 

Easier said than done...but I'm definitely making progress.

Coincidence...I think not!

Today's Scripture: Romans 6:17-18 

Thought for the day: "Condemnation defeats us. Conviction unlocks  the greatest potential for
change."

Ok...this is starting to get a little creepy. I had an incident happen today and I said to myself, no matter what my devotional is about, I have to write about this tonight. Ummmm....guess what my devotional was about??? YEP!!! You got it!

Today I looked up my son's grades online and was quite disappointed. They are not where they need to be. So I sat him down and we started talking about. As we were talking, I was starting to get irritated and at one point...I said something super sarcastic. Now, I've been trying really hard to not do that, because I know it hurts his feelings. I caught myself and I apologized to him, but it didn't matter, cause the damage was done. I hurt his feelings, made him cry and felt like a horrible mom in the process. I could have handled that differently. I didn't have to let the situation get me upset. I didn't have to let his indifference push me to snap back at him. 

I spent the whole time I was making dinner beating myself up about my reaction. I felt shame because I've been reading this devotional and writing about how I'm going to make all these great choices, but then when given the opportunity...I mess up. Way to go, Kat. 

Then I picked up my devotional and read today's entry. Yep, perfect response to that situation. It basically said that when I mess up like I did, it's ok to feel the conviction of the wrong choice that I made. I can learn from the conviction. It's like when I gently correct the boy on something he's doing wrong. I'm not trying to make him feel bad, just trying to teach him. That's what God just did to me. He just pointed out a different way for me to talk to my son.

What I felt was condemnation. The beating myself up, the guilt and the shame that I felt was all self-induced. God didn't put that on me. I put that on me. 

So, I think that I can better recognize the opportunity to be gentle and respond the way God wants me to as opposed to be a sarcastic smart-aleck. 

Ya know...every time I pray and ask God to show me how He's working in my life...He does something like this. He gives me what I ask for. So why am I always so surprised when it happens???