The Spirit of Pettiness
You know the saying "treat others as you would like to be treated"? It's an old saying that merits a lot of lessons. It's a lesson that is supposed to teach you about respecting others. It's a lesson about being kind to others in general....NO MATTER WHAT. Now I want you to be honest here...how often do you actually follow and live by this saying?
"So then those who are living the life of the flesh (catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature) cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him." -Romans 8:8.
During the last few weeks in my personal life, I have had lots of tests to my personal character. I have had lots of tests on my patience, my self-esteem, and most of all self control. I have had to catch myself from not cussing at certain individuals. I have had to catch myself from not posting on social media my grief about what someone else has said or done to me. I have had to literally be "uncomfortable" in order to stay in the Word. Let me tell you something...it's HARD! Do you know how much I have wanted to go off on certain individuals in my life? Do you know how much I've wanted to hit certain people because they have mouthed off to me? I have literally had to "take it" and just keep it moving.
Now I bet you're wondering "why?" Why am I allowing certain behaviors or people to get under my skin? Why am I allowing myself to get stressed out? Honestly, I'm not "allowing " this all to happen. I'm trying to live my life for our Heavenly Father. I'm trying to get my blessings and be pleasing to HIM and sometimes, it's "easier said than done". It's moments like this where you have to rely on your faith and do what isn't comfortable. I'm telling you that it's very hard not to be petty. Especially when it comes from the ultimate players of pettiness,...your family.
Family. You can't choose them and you certainly can't trade them in. You can't pick which ones to hate (I mean you can) but you get where I'm going with this. You can't get rid of them like you can a boyfriend or a girlfriend or coworkers or friends. You have to literally deal with family not matter what. They are there, they aren't going anywhere. I had to deal with family a lot these days when I invited a family member to come into my home while they got themselves right. Now when you have a lot of people under one roof, it's going to eventually cause friction. And let me tell you that it has caused more than friction. I'm honestly tired of dealing with my family at the moment. I'm one who wants privacy and space, and currently I don't have either. THAT isn't my complaint though. My complaint is lack of respect.
"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. " -Proverbs 17:14
I've had to bite my tongue in some many instances. I've had to keep quite because you have to ask yourself "is it really worth it?" "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.
I hear you. When you 're in your feelings you don't want to be good. You don't want to do what the Bible says. You want revenge, you want retribution, you want that person to feel and know how your'e feeling RIGHT NOW! I get it! Trust I'm right there with you. But unfortunately and listen carefully when I say this...revenge isn't for you. Revenge isn't for you to do. God will avenge you in the end. I know you may be thinking that his timing isn't fast enough, but trust....it will make a difference when you wait. Put it like this...you not wanting to wait will mean ultimately that he will have to punish you too, and that's NOT the business, so let's not even go there.
Being petty may be cute or even fun at times. It might even feel great to get even with someone who has done wrong by you. I want you to think of this though...would God approve of your pettiness?
You weren't expecting that....
**Lucas Cool and I are releasing our book soon! Details soon to come. It will be available for download and purchase so stay tuned for details.
***Check out our new website inspiringconnections.net You can listen to our podcast episodes, get info on our books and connect with us!
"So then those who are living the life of the flesh (catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature) cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him." -Romans 8:8.
During the last few weeks in my personal life, I have had lots of tests to my personal character. I have had lots of tests on my patience, my self-esteem, and most of all self control. I have had to catch myself from not cussing at certain individuals. I have had to catch myself from not posting on social media my grief about what someone else has said or done to me. I have had to literally be "uncomfortable" in order to stay in the Word. Let me tell you something...it's HARD! Do you know how much I have wanted to go off on certain individuals in my life? Do you know how much I've wanted to hit certain people because they have mouthed off to me? I have literally had to "take it" and just keep it moving.
Now I bet you're wondering "why?" Why am I allowing certain behaviors or people to get under my skin? Why am I allowing myself to get stressed out? Honestly, I'm not "allowing " this all to happen. I'm trying to live my life for our Heavenly Father. I'm trying to get my blessings and be pleasing to HIM and sometimes, it's "easier said than done". It's moments like this where you have to rely on your faith and do what isn't comfortable. I'm telling you that it's very hard not to be petty. Especially when it comes from the ultimate players of pettiness,...your family.
Family. You can't choose them and you certainly can't trade them in. You can't pick which ones to hate (I mean you can) but you get where I'm going with this. You can't get rid of them like you can a boyfriend or a girlfriend or coworkers or friends. You have to literally deal with family not matter what. They are there, they aren't going anywhere. I had to deal with family a lot these days when I invited a family member to come into my home while they got themselves right. Now when you have a lot of people under one roof, it's going to eventually cause friction. And let me tell you that it has caused more than friction. I'm honestly tired of dealing with my family at the moment. I'm one who wants privacy and space, and currently I don't have either. THAT isn't my complaint though. My complaint is lack of respect.
"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. " -Proverbs 17:14
I've had to bite my tongue in some many instances. I've had to keep quite because you have to ask yourself "is it really worth it?" "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.
I hear you. When you 're in your feelings you don't want to be good. You don't want to do what the Bible says. You want revenge, you want retribution, you want that person to feel and know how your'e feeling RIGHT NOW! I get it! Trust I'm right there with you. But unfortunately and listen carefully when I say this...revenge isn't for you. Revenge isn't for you to do. God will avenge you in the end. I know you may be thinking that his timing isn't fast enough, but trust....it will make a difference when you wait. Put it like this...you not wanting to wait will mean ultimately that he will have to punish you too, and that's NOT the business, so let's not even go there.
Being petty may be cute or even fun at times. It might even feel great to get even with someone who has done wrong by you. I want you to think of this though...would God approve of your pettiness?
You weren't expecting that....
**Lucas Cool and I are releasing our book soon! Details soon to come. It will be available for download and purchase so stay tuned for details.
***Check out our new website inspiringconnections.net You can listen to our podcast episodes, get info on our books and connect with us!
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