Recently the speed limit on a heavily traveled two lane street in my neighborhood was reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph. Most drivers have seized the opportunity to slow down and relax. However every morning, I can see in my rear view mirror someone who needs on the spot anger management training. Do you know what I’m talking about?
It’s hard to maintain the 25 mph speed on a very long stretch of road. Sometimes my speedometer creeps up to just below 30 mph. I stay within a safe range because I know that there’s an occasional police car hiding on a side street. I’ve also witnessed cars being stopped for speeding. That is not how I want to start my day.
Occasionally I’ve seen someone pass another car which is maintaining the posted speed. It’s totally illegal but the driver is just too impatient to stay in line. I’ve seen lots of interesting facial expressions, steering wheel gripping, hand gestures and flashing of headlights.
The person who rides on my bumper brings me the greatest concern. I usually pull to the curb and let that person pass. I admit that I have reduced my speed even more just to make my point to an obnoxious driver behind me. That’s not my best behavior!
Very seldom do these agitated drivers save any time. I have observed that for all the stress and anger the hurried driver puts himself through, he usually ends up at the red light or stop sign with me right behind him.
So I will continue going the speed limit, ignoring the heated people and occasionally offering a prayer for their day.
Scripture Thought for Today: A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
Read Proverbs 29:11 on Biblegateway
Showing posts with label self-control. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self-control. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Attitudes to Live By
Tuesday: Attitude of Self-control
Wednesday: Attitude of Patience
Thursday: Attitude of Doing Good
Friday: Attitude of Content
Self-control
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
Many times we can’t do anything about our circumstances. However, we can do something about our attitudes and moods while we are moving through hard times. Honoring God by doing what He has told us He wants us to be doing should be on our hearts through good times and bad times.
Scripture Comment: We usually think of anger when we think of self-control. However there are many other situations requiring self-control. Recent examples of the US and world-wide financial problems are being traced to individuals and companies with uncontrolled greed. Professional athletes have shown lack of self-control when faced with choices. We assume these people knew what was right, but lack of self-control caused their lives to break down. Alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct, in the news daily, are other items that require self-control. Self-control is NOT always easy. Getting back self-control involves making personal choices, better choices than the path currently being chosen. Lacking self-control usually takes people places where they don’t want their lives to go…where God is not leading. Are you making choices that lead you away from what is good for you and others? Are you allowing yourself to be led away from God and what you know He wants of you? Pray. You can always rely on God to help you when you are weak, feel helpless or don’t know what to do. Perhaps ask a trusted friend to pray with you or choose to attend a Christian recovery program. It is so easy to slip off the path if you don’t pay attention. During hard times, especially, when walls seem to weaken or crumble in your life, you need to pay special attention to what or who is controlling your life.
Pray: Do you have a place in your life you might call a “broken down wall”? Ask God for help in knowing and doing what will help you gain more self-control.
Wednesday: Attitude of Patience
Thursday: Attitude of Doing Good
Friday: Attitude of Content
Self-control
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
Many times we can’t do anything about our circumstances. However, we can do something about our attitudes and moods while we are moving through hard times. Honoring God by doing what He has told us He wants us to be doing should be on our hearts through good times and bad times.
Scripture Comment: We usually think of anger when we think of self-control. However there are many other situations requiring self-control. Recent examples of the US and world-wide financial problems are being traced to individuals and companies with uncontrolled greed. Professional athletes have shown lack of self-control when faced with choices. We assume these people knew what was right, but lack of self-control caused their lives to break down. Alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct, in the news daily, are other items that require self-control. Self-control is NOT always easy. Getting back self-control involves making personal choices, better choices than the path currently being chosen. Lacking self-control usually takes people places where they don’t want their lives to go…where God is not leading. Are you making choices that lead you away from what is good for you and others? Are you allowing yourself to be led away from God and what you know He wants of you? Pray. You can always rely on God to help you when you are weak, feel helpless or don’t know what to do. Perhaps ask a trusted friend to pray with you or choose to attend a Christian recovery program. It is so easy to slip off the path if you don’t pay attention. During hard times, especially, when walls seem to weaken or crumble in your life, you need to pay special attention to what or who is controlling your life.
Pray: Do you have a place in your life you might call a “broken down wall”? Ask God for help in knowing and doing what will help you gain more self-control.
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