Cool Your Pipes!

Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes - it only makes things worse.  Before long the crooks will be bankrupt; God-investors will soon own the store.

-Psalm 37:8-9 MSG-

I can't help but smile when I read this.  Maybe it was the timing of these words, but I just got a great feeling of peace and strength when I read it.  So often we are under appreciated by people in our life.  We are treated unfairly, disrespected or taken advantage of.  Sometimes this treatment is misunderstood and other times it is very clear that the person just doesn't like us for some reason or another.  Whatever the reason, I love that I don't have to be mad!  I don't have to fight back or get even with the people who don't agree with me, with those who simply put, don't like me.  In fact, I am making things worse when I insist on holding a grudge and staying angry with someone who has wronged me.  It seems that society these days encourages us to defend ourselves and to get back at those who hurt us, but in reality God will take care of it in His timing.  A person will never get away with hurting a child of God.  Mean, hurtful people will always have a consequence to their behavior...........we will always have a consequence to our behavior.  I just enjoy seeing these words above and letting them fill me up, taking away the pressure and stress of handling my anger on my own.  We don't have to give anger a place in our life.  We don't have to let bitterness weigh us down.  God is with us to remove that weight, He will fight our battles and get our revenge.  We just need to trust Him and let the Holy Spirit control our actions and words in a situation like this.      

God keeps track of the decent folk; what they do won't soon be forgotten.  In hard times, they'll hold their heads high; when the shelves are bare, they'll be full. 

-Psalm 37:18-19 MSG-

Dear God, take away all of the anger and bitterness that I hold in my heart.  Those things weigh me down and make me tired.  I want energy to live for you and to love like you do.  Give me self control to turn the other cheek, and instead of revenge drop me to my knees in prayer.  Help me to see things differently and when someone hurts me help me to see their hurt.  Show me your perspective and open my eyes to a new way of living like Christ.  In Jesus' Name.......Amen