There are days when people are going to say stupid things. Some will be unkind and other words will make you want to fight back and defend yourself.
While I do believe there are times to tell someone their behavior is unacceptable, I'm learning that more often than not I need to let the little things roll off my back.
I need to ignore them.
I need to refuse to give them a home in my mind or my spirit, and instead evict them through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Trust me, I know, it isn't easy. When everything inside of me wants to let my inner hulk flip
out and fight, it takes an incredible amount of strength to exhibit self control, roll my eyes, and shake it off.
These are the days when the fruit of the Spirit moves beyond the theoretical and need to be practically applied to me life as I choose to:
Love the unlovable
Choose joy when anger is calling
Have faith that God will fight for me
Be patient with those who are short tempered.
Practice meekness and self control rather than demanding my rights.
And perhaps the hardest of all--choosing to respond with kind words who the person whose words pierce like a knife.
It's in those moments that I need to remember that someone else's poison can only affect me if I let it. And even if another person wants to act like a jerk, it doesn't mean I have to stoop to their level.
As women of God we can rise up, rise above, and follow Jesus' example rather than the pattern of those around us.
Just a thought.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23
