My Focus, My Choice

The one who holds the tongue, holds the power.

There are often contributing factors that lead to volatile reactions. Stress overload often weakens your resolve to respond to situations in a Christlike manner. Often times it is very difficult to respond with the gentleness of Jesus. But pure and simple, you learn to respond like Jesus even when you don't feel like it! How do you do this? You determine to. You make yourselves aware of where you are on your personal stress scale and, you adjust your schedule. For example, if you are weighing heavy on the stress side, you may want to avoid some situations or people, if possible, until you feel calmer. And if avoiding them isn't an option, ask the Lord to help you remain calm and respond with His gentleness.

When I think of the gentleness of Jesus, I think of power under control.

It takes great strength to contain your anger instead of lashing out. It's the Jesus thing to do, and it is His power, not yours, that enables you to respond this way. (See Luke 8)

My feelings are indicators, not dictators.

As we discern what is pleasing to the Lord, we will do what is good, right, and true.

Wherever we focus our attention the most, that will become the driving force in our lives. The more I focus on trying to figure out how to please God, the more of a magnified force He will become in my life. My focus, My choice.

Every year, the last Saturday of November is Football Rivalry Weekend for most college football teams. This event is usually fun. When I was a little girl, our neighbors across the street from us pulled for our rivals. We used to have the best time kidding one another about our teams. I remember a particular year, their team won. When we drove in the driveway from the football game, a stuffed Tiger was hanging from our basketball goal by its neck. The next year, our team won and we took the stuffed Tiger and my Mom sewed garnet and black chicken feathers in its mouth. We took an old shoebox and used green construction paper to make a football field. We placed the Tiger with the chicken feathers in its mouth, in the center of the football field, put the cover on the box, and took it to our neighbors. We had the best time with them! This is what rivalry games are supposed to be about....having fun!

On November 24 of this year, our team lost to the rival team. But not without volatile reactions by the opposing team...on national television. How sad that this sporting event has become so fierce when it is supposed to be fun! Two of their good players "showed their tail feathers", so to speak in a hostile fashion. But I am very proud to say that our players did not retaliate. In another incident, a different one of their players hit one of our players helmet to helmet and then taunted him. Still our players showed class and did not retaliate.

"A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinion." Proverbs 18:2 NIV

We must remember that the chaos isn't from our circumstance, it's inside us. It is very important to remember that the one who holds the tongue, holds the power.

There have been several of my Facebook friends who have made their feelings their dictators. Some examples of these include people posting a picture of the taunting after the sack. Two of their players got in the face of our player while he was still on the ground.

People have bragged about this player's behavior saying things like,"Cracking skulls is his job!" and "it's Football, Not Sunday School." So obviously some people chose to place their focus on football, not on pleasing God.

Other people have complained about having their friends delete them from Facebook because of negative comments they made. The focus of the people that deleted them is obviously in a much different place...on pleasing God.

Philippines 4:8 says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

*The one who holds the tongue, and the temper, holds the power. Focus on God, not your feelings.*

Blessings,
Dalinda