December 31, 2021 – Click here to listen
Quite a few years back I was recording Words for the Day for the audio feature and my radio segment and unbeknownst to me one of my granddaughter twins had gotten up early and come downstairs and overheard me recording it. Later she reported to her mother that, “Papaw was in his office talking to his computer about God.”
Months later one of my grandsons was visiting and like my granddaughter he eased up to my office door without me seeing him and listened in on a phone conversation I was having. He overheard me yelling at my creative design vendor who would not stop talking long enough for me to explain a project to him. His mother who observed the incident, took a photo of him listening in on my conversation with his wide innocent eyes about to pop out of his head. She later even posted it on Facebook.
Oh great! Ugh!
I would have much preferred that my grandson would have heard me “talking to my computer about God” than losing my temper and going off on someone who had aggravated me beyond my limit.
I’m not around my grandchildren that often, or any kids for that matter, and when I am, I try my utmost to watch what I say. I just spent several days over the holidays with them, and I was ashamed of how many times I caught myself making some derogatory comment that was inappropriate for a small child to hear.
As I thought about this problem, I realized that there is never an appropriate time to make a comment like that, whether a child is present or not. Thus, I have vowed as a New Year’s resolution to work harder to curb that type of behavior. It serves no purpose and negates any Godly testimony one might have. Several of my friends told me that at this late stage of my life it would be too difficult for me. They tell me that I’m old and crusty and that is who I am. Even if it is more difficult than a leopard changing its spots, I intend to try my utmost because I hate that aspect of “who I am”.
I’ve battled a foul temper and bad language most of my life. Through the years I’ve worn rubber bands on my wrists and snapped them as punishment when I say something foul, fined myself money which I gave to the needy, pulled my hair, and pinched myself hard, but nothing has ever worked.
I’ve prayed often about it, but my flesh seems to get the best of me at times.
The Apostle Paul who himself was frequently led into fits of blazing temper and using words, and taking actions which he himself did not approve, (much less Jesus), had similar frustrations when he wrote in Romans 17:5: “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” I believe that hating sin and wanting to achieve a higher form of holiness is confirmation that we have the saving grace of the gospel, but that is no excuse for bad behavior. It is an affront to Jesus.
So how do we fight this beast? Fighting evil is done almost exclusively in the mind. Our thoughts guide our actions. Romans 8:5 – Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
The Bible reminds us that there is no temptation too great to avoid. I’ve found that the toughest ones cannot be resolved without God’s help. Through Christ I have overcome so many dark problems in my life that I know without question that this battle can be won. The answer begins in the mind, and we need to unclog the sewer of sin from it and let clean pure thoughts fill our souls. Perhaps the key to avoiding temptation and improving our behavior is to pray long and hard for strength from Christ to get our minds right and maybe do so in conjunction with a fast. After all that food I consumed that would be like killing two birds with one soul.
Happy New Year!
Phil. 4:8
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Please don’t go getting all “drunked” up tonight and remember Jesus is watching your behavior. Go to church this Sunday and start your New Years off right!