“So change the way you think and act,and turn [to God] to have your sins removed.”—Act 3:19 (GW)
The title of this week’s post has to do with some wrong thinking/behavior on my part. I’d like to say my negative attitude about something was a one and done. However, it is something that has been going on for a few years. Full transparency; it is more than a few years.
My husband is pretty meticulous when it comes to taking care of our home/yard. We have some neighbors on one side of us who don’t share the same enthusiasm. It is probably magnified right now since we have been actively looking at homes. This means our home could be on the market to sell in the near future.
Every time I pull in the driveway, I am reminded of their lack of care. The grass/landscaping in the front yard is nonexistent. Packages stay on the front porch for days. Trash/junk on the side of the house has been there for months.
Why do I let this bother me? I know I shouldn’t let it irritate me like I do. I was on a roll the other day. After my little ventfest, I felt the Holy Spirit convict me. He whispered to my heart, Lisa, you don’t know what is going on in their life. What would happen if every time you have a negative thought or want to vent about it, you pray for them?
Ouch! I know He is right. God convicted me how my criticism was crowding out kindness and compassion. Not only will it start softening my heart, but who can’t use some extra prayers? I don’t know what is going on their life. I do need to have more understanding. I am working on it.
Ok…I’ll be honest, my first prayer was, Thank You, Jesus, that they finally took that BIG package off their front porch. I know this wasn’t the kind of prayer God was convicting me to do.
Now, rather than get irritated, I am practicing saying this, Lord, I don’t know what is going on in their home. I lift them up to You. You know their life. I don’t. If they don’t know You Lord, reveal Yourself to them. Draw them to You. As this becomes my daily habit, it will refresh my heart.
Awareness of God’s presence convicts us of right words and behaviors. Even though God offers us forgiveness for our sins, we need to confess them to Him to receive it. Many times, my sins are my thoughts. I may be convicted to not verbalize what I am thinking, but I still hold onto that negative thought.
Every day I need God’s forgiveness. None of us are perfect or will we ever be. There are no perfect people for God to use. We are all broken, but He can still use us. Rather than let these thoughts corrupt my attitude for the day, I need to acknowledge them before God and fully obey what He is convicting me to do….PRAY.
Father God,
Forgive me for my negativity. Thank you for brightening my perspective. Only You can replace my irritation with compassion. Guard my thoughts from unholy thinking. Help me to be a better neighbor. I know loving my neighbor is a command. Thank You for the much needed reminder. I lift those up to You who are letting their frustrations affect their attitude. Open their eyes to how they can redirect their thinking this week. I pray these things in the name of Your Precious Son, Jesus. Amen.
August Verse
“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.”—Proverbs 3:3 (NASB)
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