"Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense." (Proverbs 19:11 AMPC)
Have you ever had something happen to you and in the moment, you don't respond because you can't believe someone actually said that? You want to tell yourself I didn't just hear that, right? Then a couple of days later you're in shock and you're like, really, they actually said that?
Your flesh wants to respond, but your spirit says, be still. You choose to listen to your spirit, and in that moment, you realize just how much you've grown! Then you realize just how much your growth impacts others.
"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are contrary to each other, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?" (Galatians 5:16-18 MSG)
So thankful for the growth and spiritual maturity I now walk in. Others should be thankful too. IJS!
These are the things God tells us to do instead of taking things into our own hands:
Walk in love, in spite of how you may feel - "And walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance." (Ephesians 5:2 AMP)
Do not let your anger control you - "Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us]." (James 1:19-20 AMP)
Know that God will fight your battles - "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest." (Exodus 14:14 AMPC)
Vengeance belongs to the Lord, not us - "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord." (Romans 12:19 AMPC)
Trust God and not our understanding - “Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 TPT)
Be Encouraged! ❤
This is right on time. It is amazing when you realize that you have had a paradym shift to respond only how God wants you to respond not the way the world would have responded, I any given situation.