Can I Please Have a "Do Over?"

I blew it this weekend.  I really blew it.  What else is there to say?  I was selfish, bitter, and angry.  I had choices to make and many of those did not bring love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  In fact, I could see the stink in our home rising and the peace fleeing. 

There really wasn’t a remarkable “event.”  There wasn’t any “defining moment.”  The kids and I just all seemed to be grouchy, irritable and argumentative.  And I didn’t find a consistent way to stop the cycle. 

So, now I sit here and wonder what I would do differently if I could go back and get a “do over?”  (Have you ever been there?  Wishing for a “do over”?)

I think I would pull out our Bible and talk to the boys about their behavior.  I would have us work on a verse together.  I would pull out all the stuff in the closet so I could get to the Play-Dough.  I would build a tent for them.  I’m still not sure what I would do differently with Zoe - she is definitely terrible two’s!  But, maybe I would sit with her in her room and read more books.  I would turn the music up and dance with her more.  And with all three I would still keep my voice low. 

I don’t want to live in regrets, but I do want to be prepared for the next time I face a similar weekend.  Thinking through what I did, and what I will do next time, helps me be prepared.  Next time (and I’m pretty sure there will be a next time), I’ll stop with the kids and pray - maybe that is the first step in how to “live by the Spirit” – to putting Galatians 5 in action.

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Lord, I have been discouraged about the weekend.  The peace fled from our home.  And I did nothing to bring it back.  I let frustration set in.  I did hear You…  I did keep my voice low…  I did have many peaceful responses, but what I lacked was perseverance when the battles kept raging.  I see it so clearly now, Lord!  You prepared me for this – for the time when the storms would get greater.  I just didn’t see it until now.  I did do well, but now I must persevere.  Thank you for opening my eyes and giving me hope! 

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My Child, I love your excitement when you see and hear Me.  I love how you are truly seeking Me.  Do you realize you avoided Me yesterday?  I want you to see you never need to avoid Me.  I will never condemn you.  I will never harm you.  If you will turn to Me, I will always redeem and restore.  Remember this, for the enemy will try to convince you otherwise.

Dig into scripture with Me, and I will reveal even more mysteries.  Apply what I reveal to you.  Today think about living in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.  For if you live in the Spirit, you will be ruled by the Spirit.  You will not set fleshly expectations.  Instead, you will set heavenly ones.  Remember, I am with you today.  And, My will shall be done. 

Your Author

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I want to thank you for walking through life with me.  There are about sixty of you who extend grace and encouragement to me weekly.  I don’t know what the future holds for any of us, but I thank God every time I think of you, for joining us together for such a time as this.

I pray you were able to look more closely at the fruits of the Spirit.  We will actually be offering an in-depth Bible study on Thursday mornings from 9-11 a.m. starting January 10 if you want to really dig in.

As you can see from my life story, I’m still working on living in freedom in Christ.  I will until the day Jesus takes me home to heaven with Him.  But until then, I’ll work it out.  I’ll seek and look.  And, I pray you will too.  Let’s break down the next passage God put on my heart from 1 Peter 3:6-11.

“ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

What has God given us by His own divine power?

And through these (everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him) what has He given us?

And why has He given us these promises?

What do you think it means to participate in the divine nature?

What corruption in this world do you want to escape?

^“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”

Because God has given us the opportunity to participate in His divine nature, we should be moved to make every effort to grow.  Read the list again.  Why do you think they are in the order given?

What do you receive if you possess them increasingly throughout your life?

What happens if you do not?

^“ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

With God’s gift of walking in His divine nature, and our effort to continually grow in increasing measure, what can happen? 

Can you look back at your life and see times of living in freedom and victory and times of stumbling over sin?  How was your walk with Jesus during these times?  What is the difference?

It is hard for my brain to comprehend, but God tells us we can live in victory and freedom every day.  He has given us everything we need.  We just have to embrace it.  We have to choose it.  We have to walk it. 

It sounds so simple, but it is hard.  I know.  In fact, I’ll share some of my personal hardships as we move into 2013.  But, for now, read through the Galatians 5 passage and the 1 Peter 3 passage again and gage where you are in your walk with Jesus.  Where are you?  Where do you want to be?  Now write out 1 to 3 steps you are going to take this week.  Put them somewhere you can see them.  And, commit them to God.