Defiance

I decided about two weeks ago that I would not get defensive when some one confronted me; my defenses seem to pop up when I am convicted. It’s easier to be irritated and frustrated rather than deal with my own sin. So now when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I'm ready to throw down, I try to stop and ask myself why I'm irritated; more often than not, the answer is, I don't like seeing my short comings. Tonight our friends came over for dinner and I was ranting and raving about the injustices of my life, and very calmly Daniel asked what the Bible had to say about my situation. I was instantly annoyed, I was ready for a fight, and then I remembered my pledge, I had to rationally listen to what was being said. I don't know about you, but it's really hard for me to do this because I know that it's going to bring into the light things I would rather leave in the dark. But the Lord is not content to leave me in the dark, so he brings people like Daniel in my life to keep me in check. When I simmered down enough to listen him he was talking about Galatians, and how it talks about reaping what you sow. My arms were crossed, and I stared at him with the same look my twelve year old gives me when she's been caught. My mind was filled with thoughts of, “is he saying that I had a bad day because I sowed bad seed?” That was said in the tone of HOW DARE HE!!! I had to think about what he said for a little while; one, because I don't like being told it's my fault, two, my feathers were pretty ruffled, and three, somewhere deep down I knew it was true. I can't do anything about the circumstances of my life, but I do have control over my own attitude. My attitude has been pretty foul lately, I've got great excuses: I'm sleep deprived, I had two sick kids, and I gave up sweets two months ago because I was taking far too much solace in them. But the fact remains, when I choose to look at all the irritants in my life, all that annoys me, my circumstances seem pretty grim.....I reap irritation, and annoyance and bitterness. When I turn my eyes back to the Lord, I am more likely to forgive the irritants, I am more apt to overlook the annoyances and what I reap is PEACE. So Daniel, in your very direct, Daniel, way thanks for being a friend that doesn't waver from the truth, and reminds me when I have a defiant spirit that I will reap what I sow. Thanks also for turning me to Galatians 6:9 (NIV), "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."