“FAITH” Is What Activates the Power of God In Your Life! He Heals, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He Delivers, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He Saves, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He Opens & Shuts Doors, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He Grants Opportunities That You Don’t Even Qualify For.

We become so engrossed in what we see, feel, and hear, that we operate within our natural senses rather than our spiritual ones! However, the Bible instructs us: “THROUGH YOUR FAITH, God is protecting you by His power” (1 Peter 1:5 NLT). Therefore, you need to keep in mind that your “FAITH” is what Activates the Power of God in your life! Just imagine if you dared to increase your mustard seed faith and started nurturing it to grow bigger, taking it to new levels, what would God release in your life?! Because He heals, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He delivers, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He saves, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He Opens and Shuts Doors, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He grants opportunities that you don’t even qualify for, THROUGH YOUR FAITH; He protects you with His power…THROUGH YOUR FAITH! So, What’s The Pulse Of Your Faith Today? Can you even feel it anymore, or have you become so conditioned to living in the comfort zone, in the familiar, in fear that it’s barely alive anymore?

You see, when trials hit, the enemy attacks your mind, your rest, your peace, your emotions and your thought life! So, what can you do?  Lift the shield of faith and stop his flaming arrows: “…take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” and use it to drive him back! (Ephesians 6:17 NKJV). That’s what genuine faith does when the attacks of life come, blow by blow! Faith wields the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God; it uses that Word to drive the enemy back! For instance, genuine faith speaks healing when the doctor speaks sickness; it speaks covenant when the marriage is speaking divorce; it speaks peace when the whole household speaks chaos; it speaks life when depression is telling you to slit your wrists and die! Genuine faith refuses to allow circumstances and situations, trials, struggles and tribulations to cause it to get in bed and pull the covers over its head. No, genuine faith gets up every morning without an alarm clock and continues to go to work!

Look at it this way: Before a stone becomes a diamond it’s just carbon put under millions of pounds of pressure! Which helps us understand better what the Bible means when it says, “These TRIALS will show that your FAITH is genuine” (vs. 7 NLT). You See, Trouble Not Only Places A Demand On Your Faith, But Reveals The Depth Of It! Truth is, you don’t really know much about your faith when your bills are paid, your body is healthy, your children are acting right, and your marriage is intact! But When All Hell Is Breaking Loose and You Trust God To Bring You Through It, You Know You’ve Got Genuine Faith! When you trust God even with the disconnect notice in the mail or the eviction notice stapled to the door; when you have faith in God when the finances are in an exceeding drought; when you rely on God and yet have no idea where the bill money is coming from, where the gas money is coming from, where the rent, mortgage, car note, insurance and tuition money is coming from; when you continue to quote the Word even when the doctor hits you with yet another diagnosis! This is when the testing of your faith proves if it’s genuine, or if it’s just another form of godliness! 2 Timothy 3:5, "holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them." (AMP)

People of God, Put Your Faith To Work! Say, “Enough is Enough”, and begin to take back what the enemy has stolen from you! David Did! The Bible says, “David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray you, bring me the ephod. And Abiathar brought him the ephod. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? The Lord Answered Him, Pursue, For You Shall Surely Overtake Them And Without Fail Recover All.” (1 Samuel 30:7-8 Amp). In Other Words, Stop Complaining and Wield Your Weapon! Get In The Word And Put Your Faith To Work! All You Need Is The Go-Ahead From God, And When You Get It, Go Forth, Because You Will Recover All And Without Fail! Take heart, this fight my friend is already fixed in your favor, so you have absolutely nothing to worry about! You will succeed, because God has already spoken that you will not fail!

Listen to another example, the Syrian army had surrounded the city of Samaria, and its population was dying of starvation. Having lived off scraps of bread that folks threw over the wall each day, four lepers quickly assessed that they were in trouble. They said, “WHY SIT HERE UNTIL WE DIE?” (2 Kings 7:3 TLB). So they went into the city, only to discover God had worked a miracle, causing the Syrians to flee in terror, leaving behind them food, water, and riches! What do we learn from these four lepers? Refuse To Sit There And Die! When You Put Your Faith Into Action, God Will Go To Work On Your Behalf! But You Have To Rise Up And Say: “If I’m Going To Die, I’m Going To Do It Reaching For Something, Building Something, Going After Something!” I Refuse To Just Sit Here And Die, When I Still Have Options! And my greatest option is that I still have faith in GOD!

When It Feels Like You’re Down For The Count Of Ten, You Have To Rise Up And Say: “I Shall Not Die, But Live, And Declare The Works Of The Lord” (Psalm 118:17 NKJV). That Kind Of Faith Gets God’s Attention Every Time! It is a declaration and decree that I will not give up, I will not give in, I will not give out, I will not throw in the towel, I will not quit, I will not give the enemy the opportunity to see me die, when I can live and continue to declare the works of the Lord! Your faith is your ammunition when the enemy tries to come in and snuff out your life. You open your mouth and speak faith that silences fear, and live! Your Mouth Has The Power Of Life And Death, But The Choice Is Always Yours, After All, It Is Your Mouth! Make The Wise Decision Today To Speak Life!

You see, I’ve learned from personal experience, when you get DESPERATE enough in your faith, you won’t even care who God uses to help you, you’ll be willing to receive any help He sends your way! Just ask Naaman! Naaman the leper, a five-star general in the Syrian army, humbled himself and eventually became willing to listen to a girl who washed dishes and made beds in his house! (Listen: When Somebody Has An Answer From God To Deliver To You, You Won’t Care Who The Messenger Is!) Genuine faith says, ‘I just need the message to be God delivered, and I don’t care if the delivery man/woman is an usher, janitor, drunk, maid, donkey, bus driver, bird, water, sanitation worker, hobo, CEO, young, old, black, white, male or female, leader or laity, seated high or seated low, age 8 or age 80, I just need the message to be God delivered to me!’ Genuine faith cares about the content of the message on the inside, not the kind of labeling of the container on the outside!

Think about it, Naaman was even willing to dip seven times in the dirtiest river around, to come up clean (2 Kings 5:1-19). Genuine Faith Says: “I Don’t Care Where I Have To Go, What I Have To Do, Or Who I Have To Listen To, Whatever God Says, I’ll Do It!” Why Live With A Disease When You Can Simply Believe God, Trust What He Says, And Put Your Faith To Work?! I Mean Why Die When You Can Live?! Why die in fear when you can live in faith?!

Luke records: “As He…passed through…Samaria…there met Him ten…lepers, who…lifted their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So, when He saw them, He said…’Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed” (vss. 11-14 NKJV). Lepers were social outcasts, So They Lived Together In A Colony! But The Problem Is, You Can’t Get Well, Hanging Around People Who Are Just As Sick As You Are! And this is where we mess up because we don’t take the problem to Jesus; we take it to people, and often, people who are worse off than we are! I mean if you don’t have any money, what’s the point in telling Michelle who is broker than you? If your marriage is on the rocks, why are you telling Keith whose marriage is on life support? If your children are failing in school, why tell Lisa whose daughter dropped out 3 months ago? If the doctor said it’s Cancer, why tell it to Paul who don’t have enough faith to believe God to heal him from the common cold? Are you getting this? You can’t heal in the same colony of folks who are just as sick (or sicker) than you! This means you need to bring the problem to JESUS! The Bible says, “When evening came, They Brought To Him Many Who Were Under The Power Of Demons, And He Drove Out The Spirits With A Word And Restored To Health All Who Were Sick.” (Matthew 8:16 Amp). In Other Words, Don’t Just Sit There And Die! And Don’t Hang Around Those Who Are Dying Either! Get Up And Get To Jesus! Why? Because He’ll Drive Out Those Demonic Spirits With A Word And Restore You And All Attached To You To Health! I reiterate, why sit in fear and die when you can walk by faith and live?!

Also, notice the words, “HE PASSED THROUGH…” Jesus didn’t go to the leper colony, He was just passing through. What do you do when you’re losing your life, your family, your health, your peace, your joy, your job, your mind, your finances, etc.…and Jesus doesn’t even seem to be looking in your direction? You can get frustrated when it feels like He’s blessing everybody but you, and wonder, “Lord, when is my turn coming? I’ve served You faithfully; yet it seems like everybody else is the object of Your attention and affection.” Right There, It’s Time To Cry Out Just Like the Lepers, “Jesus, Have Mercy On Me!” Away With Dignity And Decorum, Desperate People Pray Desperate Prayers, And God Responds!

Notice also, when Jesus was passing by these lepers did NOT shout, “Unclean,” as the law REQUIRED! No, They Broke Protocol! Listen: When You’re In A Bad Situation, Sometimes You Have To Break Out In Order To Break-Through! You have to learn to respond like the psalmist:  “I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill” (Psalm 3:4 NKJV).  Don’t Let Nobody Box You Into A Corner Pew And Shhh You Down! Cry Loud And Spare Not! Open Your Mouth And Get Jesus’ Attention! And When You Have Nothing Else To Lose, You Go All The Way In! Scream Until You Lose Your Voice, Clap Your Hands Until They Turn Red! Dance Until You Collapse! Shout Until Mother Sitting Next To You Turns Off Her Hearing Aid! Run Around That Church! Whatever You Do, Get His Attention! Desperate People Are A Determined People! Don’t Become Fearful, Fainthearted, Faltering, Or Foolish! Simply Believe God’s Promise To You And Put Your Faith To Work!

My Suggestion: Instead of discussing the issue endlessly, Just Do What He’s Told You To Do! Real Faith In Action Needs No Explanation In Order To Act! Sometimes God Will Give You “A Word” And It Looks Like It’s Not Even Working – But It Is – Yes, Even When It Doesn’t Look Like It!  The Faith That God Responds To Does Not Require Understanding Of The Orders Given, Just Obedience In Carrying Them Out! And When You Do, You’ll Be Amazed At What He Does In The Meantime!

“And so it was that AS THEY WENT, they were cleansed” (vs. 14 NKJV). Note the words, “AS THEY WENT” The Bible says, “The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord…” (Psalm 37:23 AMP). Listen, When God Tells You Something, Step Out On It! The Word Has Already Declared That He’s Ordered, Directed, And Established Your Every Step! But Does That Mean You Have To Walk It Alone? Absolutely Not, The Bible Says, “And So It Was That As They Went, They Were Cleansed”. You Don’t Have To Walk This Faith Out By Yourself, However, When You Walk In Faith, It’s A One Way Street! Only Those Going In The Same Direction Can Go With You! All Opposing Traffic Has To Pick Another Street! When You Walk In Faith, You Arrive Safely To Your Destination, And Only With The Company Of Those Who Were Heading In The Same Direction! Therefore, Work Your Faith By Walking In Faith, But Watch Those Who You Allow To Walk With You! Like-Minded Faith Walkers Will Keep You On Track, But Doubters Will Trip You Up Every Time!

Lastly, try to imagine this: “And so it was that AS THEY WENT, they were cleansed” (vs. 14 NKJV). Imagine That While They Are Walking, Their Toes Are Growing Back! As They Move In Obedience To His Word, In Faith, A Stub Turns Back Into A Finger! Their Skin Is Renewing Before Their Very Eyes! God Is Putting Them Back Together Again, As They Walk Out The Word He Gave Them! That’s Why You Can’t Stop Now! Keep Walking By Faith! Because As You Walk In Obedience To The Word He’s Given You, Your Marriage Is Repairing; Your Children Are Returning; Your Finances Are Replenishing; The Ruins Of Your Health Are Restoring! Cells, Valves, Arteries, Muscles, Tissue, Breathing, Heart Rate, Glucose, Are All Coming Back Into The Normal Range. Your Cholesterol And Blood Pressure Are Back At Optimal Levels. The Arthritis Is Easing Up; The Pain Is Subsiding; The Swelling Is Decreasing; The Bones Are Regaining New Strength; The Hurt Is Healing; The X-Rays Are Turning In Your Favor; The Diagnosis Is Re-diagnosing For The Better. Medications Are Lowering. Your Senses Are Back To Functioning At Their Best. The Cane, Crutch, Wheelchair And Walker Are Already Prepared To Be Given To Someone Else Since You No Longer Have Need Of Them. You’re Coming Off Access-A-Ride and Getting Back Behind the Wheel Of A Car Again! Oxygen Tanks Have To Be Picked Up For Good Because Your Lungs Found New Air! As You Walk By Faith In Obedience To The Word God Gave You, He’s Bringing Everything Out Of Order Back Into Order! As You Walk By Faith, He’s Restoring, Healing, Delivering, Saving, Replenishing, Repairing, Redeeming! Which is why you Can’t Get Stagnant In Fear And Die, Keep Your Faith Stride Moving Forward, Got Is Putting You Back Together Again As You Go!

“He Who Has Begun A Good Work In You Will Complete It!” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). God Begun This Work In You And He’s Going To Complete It! Rise Up In Faith And Declare, As Bad As It Was, As Depressed As I Was, As Broke As I Was, As Sick As I Was, As Unemployed As I Was, As Bad As My Marriage Was: “It’s All Coming Back Together!” The More You Walk By Faith, God Is Restoring, Resurrecting, Returning, Reviving, Regenerating, Reestablishing, And In The End You’ll Do The Rejoicing When All Of The Broken Pieces Are Finally Brought Back Together Again! And All It Takes Is Faith That Works! 

People Of God, Put Your Faith To Work, And Watch Your Faith Work For You! And all you must do is refuse to die in fear, and instead, live in faith!

Now, With All That Said, I Have a Few Questions For You: 

Is your faith still alive and well? Is it still growing? Are you still feeding it? Are you still nurturing you? Are you still walking in it? Are you still working in it?Are you still living in it? Does Your Faith Still Have a Pulse?

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.journeyintotheword.com

Two Forceful Personalities In A Relationship Are Like Two Rivers Flowing Into One: There’s Going To Be A Strong Current! Anger Can Be Instant Like A Flash Of Lightning. God Has An Anger Management Course: So, Let Us Discuss Some Of God’s Rules...

Two Forceful Personalities In A Relationship Are Like Two Rivers Flowing Into One: There’s Going To Be A Strong Current! Anger Can Be Instant Like A Flash Of Lightning, Or Prolonged Like The Rumble Of Thunder! Sometimes We Clash Painfully, Other Times We Distance And Silently Abandon The Relationship. But Anger Managed The Right Way Doesn’t Have To Be Destructive!

IMPORTANT: “Anger is only one letter short of Danger.” (Author Unknown).

Ephesians 4:25-32 “What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we are all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. GO AHEAD AND BE ANGRY. YOU DO WELL TO BE ANGRY—BUT DON’T USE YOUR ANGER AS FUEL FOR REVENGE. AND DON’T STAY ANGRY. DON’T GO TO BED ANGRY. Do not give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life…Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Do not grieve God. Do not break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Do not take such a gift for granted. Make a clean break with all the cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (MSG)                                                                    

The word Storage when separated is Sto-Rage. Some people get so angry that their anger turns into rage, we all know what a storage unit is, you put things away until a later time, some people have a lot to store and others little, well it’s just like what the word say. You are storing rage, simply put: Sto-Rage. This can be dangerous, because many times you will explode on the wrong person and sometimes that rage will lead to the death of an innocent person or persons. We often hear about these situations in the news. Sad but true.

God has an Anger Management Course: So, let us discuss some of God’s Rules for Anger Management.

RULE #1—KEEP IT HONEST: Our text says, “…NO MORE LIES…” When You’re Angry Don’t Deny It! Unbelievably, Anger Can Be Constructive! Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton said: “Anger ventilated often hurries toward forgiveness; and concealed often hardens into revenge.” We are right to get angry when people are mistreated, and wrongs are not made right. Saying, ‘I’ve been feeling angry and because I value our relationship, I’d like to talk about it, ‘Is Honest, Non-Threatening and Invites Resolution. 

Observe the following tidbits on Anger: 

a)   IGNORING, STIFLING, SUPPRESSING, OR PRETENDING YOU’RE NOT ANGRY IS DISHONEST: “Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry.” (Lyman Abbott).

b)   ANOTHER FORM OF LYING WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY IS EXAGGERATION: Phrases Like: You NEVER listen to what I say.’ Or ‘You ALWAYS ignore my wishes.’ Or ‘NOBODY does anything around here except me. ‘Such Generalizations Are Untrue and Serve Only to Aggravate and Polarize, Guaranteeing the Real Problem Gets Obscured and Goes Unsolved. The truth is, they weren’t listening; maybe your wishes are ignored and maybe you do more than others; BUT CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME?! Remember this: “If you add to the truth, you subtract from it.” (The Talmud). So, do your best to avoid such words as ‘NEVER’; ‘ALWAYS’ and ‘NOBODY’. Keeping in mind that: “An exaggeration is a truth that has lost its temper.” (Kahlil Gibran).

c)   ANOTHER WAY TO LIE WHEN YOU’RE ANGRY IS BLAMING: Phrases Like: ‘If you arrive on time, I wouldn’t have to nag you,’ or ‘If you’d quit nagging so much, maybe I’d start being on time.’ BLAMING IS A WAY OF EVADING YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY WHILE POINTING THE FINGER AT OTHERS! It angers others, perpetuates your own anger, and never produces the result you want! I believe the following quote will put things in proper perspective for you: “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” (Unknown Author) I know that hurt, but if applied, it will help!

God’s rule is always right. Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor… ‘.

RULE #2—KEEP IT NON-LETHAL: Paul writes: ‘IN YOUR ANGER DO NOT SIN… ‘(Ephesians 4:26 NIV). What do Paul’s words mean? DON’T LET YOUR ANGER ESCALATE TO THE POINT OF DOING DAMAGE! DON’T USE YOUR WORDS AS WEAPONS OR A CONTROL MECHANISM! “Sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.” (Author Unknown). It’s okay to express your emotions in A HEALTHY WAY BUT KEEP THEM IN CHECK! “Not the fastest horse can catch a word spoken in anger.” (Chinese Proverb). Your goal must be to resolve the problem and strengthen the relationship, not ‘sound off’ and wound the other person! “Speak when you are angry, and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” (Ambrose Bierce). The Bible says it best: “…a crushed spirit who can bear? ‘(Proverbs 18:14 NIV). Now, is all this easy to do? No! But You Have To Be Mindful: Words Spoken In Jest, Sarcasm, Self-Righteousness Or ‘Righteous Indignation’ Wound People, And Sometimes Those Wounds Are Permanent! Hear the Word of the Lord: A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. ‘(Proverbs 15:4 NKJV). ‘‘The tongue can bring death… ‘(Proverbs 18:21 NLT). Ungodly words, once unleashed, can: ‘…sink deep into one’s heart ‘(Proverbs 26:22 NLT). YOUR WORDS CAN LIVE IN THE HEART AND MEMORY OF A PERSON AND GO ALL THE WAY TO THE GRAVE WITH THEM! We say, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me, ‘But It’s Not True! A Person Can Die Of A Crushed Spirit, And The One Who Spoke The Words Can Live To Regret The Damage They’ve Inflicted And Never Get A Chance To Undo It! On The Other Hand, Anger Properly Handled Never Needs To Be Repented Of! So Learn To Differentiate Between The Anger You Feel And The Words You Speak! Anger Carefully Thought Through, Can Reveal Important Information About Needed Changes!

RULE #3—KEEP IT CURRENT: Storing anger in your hard drive ONLY HURTS YOU! “Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful TO US than the injury that provokes it.” (Seneca). When you rehearse old resentments, YOU GROW BITTER! But remember the words of Malachy McCourt, “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” The Bible says: ‘The Good Man Brings Good Things Out Of The Good Stored Up In His Heart, And The Evil Man Brings Evil Things Out Of The Evil Stored Up In His Heart. For Out Of The Overflow Of His Heart His Mouth Speaks ‘(Luke 6:45 Niv) The Contemporary English Bible Says It Like This: “Good People Do Good Things Because Of The Good In Their Hearts. Bad People Do Bad Things Because Of The Evil In Their Hearts. Your Words Show What Is In Your Heart.” So, Silence All Those Old Issues In Your Heart Before They Get To Talking And Reveal The Real You! “Anger Dwells Only In The Bosom Of Fools.” (Albert Einstein).

Therefore, when you are angry, DEAL WITH IT QUICKLY! Don’t passively allow time to decide your options or sit around hoping the other person will see the light and apologize! The Bible says: ‘If a fellow believer hurts you, GO AND TELL HIM—work it out between the two of you…confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.” (Matthew 18:15-17 MSG). Did you read those instructions clearly? “…GO AND TELL HIM…” DON’T SIT BY IDLY WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO YOU! GET UP AND GO TO THEM AND TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND RESTORE THE RELATIONSHIP! “Reconciliation is more beautiful than victory.” (Violeta Barrios de Chamorro).

When You Repress Reconciliation, You Add One More Skeleton to Your Closet! And Sooner or Later, Doctors Say, It’ll Eat at Your Stomach Lining, Attack Your Immune System, Predispose You to Heart Problems, Cancers and Other Physical, Social and Emotional Disorders! Meantime, It’ll Preoccupy You, Dissipate Your Energy, Cripple Your Creativity, Hinder Your Fellowship With God, Your Friends and Fellow Believers; Not to Mention That It Denies the Offender the Opportunity to Clear Their Conscience, Repent and Get Right With God and You! So, Stop Dragging Up the Past, Trying to Blackmail the Guilty By Hauling Skeletons Out of Closets at ‘Auspicious’ Moments, Plotting Revenge, and Passing Down Resentments For the Next Generation to Carry!

Ask God for the Humility and Courage to deal with Today’s Problems – TODAY! When your head hits the pillow tonight, know that your issues are Current, Up To Date with God and Everyone Else, and Sleep Well! “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” (Psalm 4:8 AMP).

RULE #4—KEEP IT SOLUTION-FOCUSED: Someone has said that fellowship is like two fellows in a ship: one can’t sink the other without sinking himself! In other words, by seeking to gain the upper hand you both lose! By seeking to save and strengthen the relationship you both win! So, when you speak, be sure it’s ‘…helpful for building others up according to their needs… ‘(Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Maybe this Scripture would become clearer if you read it in the Amplified Bible, it states: “Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [EVER] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is GOOD and BENEFICIAL to the spiritual progress OF OTHERS, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) TO THOSE WHO HEAR IT.” We Are Charged to Understand What the Other Person Needs! In doing so, YOU DO NOT BRING UP PREVIOUSLY CONFESSED OFFENSES; YOU DO NOT DRAG IN OTHER PEOPLE; You Do Not Use Wisecracks About People’s Weight, Height, Color, IQ, Physical, Mental and Emotional Limitations; and You Do Not Bring Up Unrelated Things or People That Cloud the Issue and Keep You From Finding a Solution! In addition, Don’t Raise the Volume In Order to Intimidate and Manipulate! God Made You With a Capacity For Anger Because When Handled the Right Way It’s the Fuel That Brings Needed Change and the Medicine That Heals. An unknown author stated: “You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.”   

Keep that in mind as you: 

a) SEEK A SOLUTION, NOT A ‘VICTORY’: Name-calling and ‘diagnosing’ others only makes things worse. Your focus should not be on what they did, BUT ON WHAT YOU CAN DO TOGETHER TO RESOLVE IT.

b) ADMIT YOUR OWN FLAWS AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS: Since it takes two to tango, acknowledging your OWN imperfections makes it easier for someone else to acknowledge theirs.

c) BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO TAKE A ‘SWING’ AT SOMEONE, MAKE SURE IT’S A POSITIVE ‘STROKE’: If you take the time to get your mind right, mere words will be no struggle! “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK continually on these things [CENTER YOUR MIND ON THEM, AND IMPLANT THEM IN YOUR HEART]. (Philippians 4:8 AMP). For each of the difficulties you must address, GIVE A COMPLIMENT ALSO. Example: I’m sure this wasn’t easy for you to hear, but thanks for listening to me so graciously. ‘CRITICISM DOESN’T CHANGE CHAOS TO CALM, BUT A COMPLIMENT SURE DOES!

RULE #5—KEEP IT IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM: “Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).” (Ephesians 4:31 AMP). Malicious Talk Is Like Wildfire, It Consumes Those Who Spread It And Those Who Listen To It! As my auntie would say, “don’t display your dirty wash; keep it in the laundry room.”

Dirty laundry gets aired in two ways: 

1)   OPEN EMBARRASSMENT. YOU SAY IT WHERE YOU KNOW OTHERS ARE GOING TO HEAR IT!  But keep in mind: “A person’s character is revealed by their SPEECH.” (Greek Proverb). Solomon also gives us some wise advice to follow: “He who goes about as a talebearer REVEALS SECRETS, but he who is trustworthy and faithful in spirit KEEPS THE MATTER HIDDEN.” (Proverbs 11:13 AMP); “Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge; Talkative Fools Broadcast Their Silliness.” (Proverbs 12:23 Msg). So, Whether You Realize It Or Not, Speaking Your Mind, Only Speaks Volumes About Your Lack Of Good Intention And Integrity; Your Lack Of Proper Motive And Maturity And Your Lack Of Compassion And Character! “Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.” (Aesop). 

2) SUBTLETY. You make jokes about their figure, family members and friends, etc., IN ORDER TO BELITTLE THEM! This results in EMBARRASSMENT for the person you’re angry at, widens the gap between you AND MAKES RECONCILIATION IMPOSSIBLE!  So, the next time you decide to crack a joke, EMBARRASS someone or speak your mind REMEMBER WHAT GOD SAID: “Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, WHICH IS NOT FITTING OR BECOMING…” (Ephesians 5:4 AMP). In addition, the next time you go to acting “SUBTLE” BE MINDFUL OF THE PERSON YOUR EMULATING: “NOW THE SERPENT was more SUBTLE and crafty than any living creature of the field…” (Genesis 3:1 AMP). Need I say more?! Even Paul warns Timothy about avoiding “Subtleties”: “O Timothy, guard and keep the deposit entrusted [to you]! Turn Away From The Irreverent Babble And Godless Chatter, With The Vain And Empty And Worldly Phrases, And The Subtleties And The Contradictions In What Is Falsely Called Knowledge And Spiritual Illumination.” (1 Timothy 6:20 AMP). Keep in mind: “Subtlety may deceive you; integrity never will.” (Oliver Cromwell).

Solomon writes: ‘He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter (Proverbs 11:13 NASB). SO, NO MATTER WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM, YOUR CHARACTER AS A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO COMMISSION YOU TO CONCEAL THE MATTER! As believers, we possess “…the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18) NOT THE MESSAGE OF REVENGE! Keep in mind: “While you are meditating revenge, THE DEVIL IS MEDITATING A RECRUIT.” (Francois de Malherbe). So are you going to be SAVED OR SATANIC? DIVINE OR DEMONIC? LIGHT OR DARK? YOU CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS! Paul makes that crystal clear: “…How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple?” (2 Corinthians 6:13-17 MSG). You can’t be Loving and Hateful, you need to make a choice. And just in case you need a little help, the Bible says: “Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.” (Proverbs 10:12 CEV).  THAT ALONE SHOULD’VE TAKEN THE DIFFICULTY OUT OF YOUR DECISION!

RULE #6—BE PART OF THE CLEAN UP CREW: We say, they brought it on themselves. Let them get over it. ‘They may have deserved it, but we can’t walk away and leave open wounds to become infected! We ‘Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. ‘(Ephesians 4:32 MSG). How did Christ forgive us? After we’d acknowledged, confessed, and repented of our sins? No! The Bible says: ‘…when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son… ‘(Romans 5:10 NIV). God took the initiative, so forgive, before the other person asks for forgiveness! And if you want to really show maturity, forgive them even if they Never ask for forgiveness! God didn’t allow you to remain His enemy for life (and He had good reason to); so, show forth the same grace and mercy you receive and forgive them. Only then are you yourself forgiven, the wounds inflicted healed, and all parties’ records before God are expunged! Manage your anger before it causes you to act Asinine (defined as “extremely stupid or foolish”)!

IN A NUTSHELL: TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO OVERCOME ANGER!

Blessings

J.P. Olson

www.journeyintotheword.com