Organizing the Inside 365 Days
Empowering Christian Women To Get Organized and Discover God's Plan for Their LivesArchive for Growth
Organizing the Inside – Day 315 Just Let It Out
In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah Psalm 4:4 (NIV)
Allow God to renew your mind, but make sure you also release the unhealthy stress and pressure at the end of your day. I’m a firm believer that we should never take it home, but that is easier said than done. Carrying around the frustration, or anger, embarrassment or anxiety that resulted from an intense business meeting or a highly emotional exchange is unhealthy. Perhaps this is why God’s Word tells us, “…and don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Ephesians 4:26 (NLT) I think this can also be applied to other strong emotions that we experience in our everyday interactions with others. There is nothing abnormal about stress and anger, but when it comes we must not let it linger. Who among us has never been angry? Anger is likely not the problem, it’s how we deal with it and the reasons why it exists to begin with that is usually the problem.
Talking about it can sometimes help. Studies show that people who have a support system and share their feelings with a trusted friend add years to their life expectancy. It is said that people who have more close friends tend to live longer. The point is this; there is clear guidance in the Word of God about dealing with our emotions and not stuffing them down in an attempt to ignore the obvious. When you feel things are building up, as if you might go into complete emotional failure, do something about it. Be proactive when you feel frustration building. There is nothing ungodly about letting off steam, as long as you aren’t exploding in a way that hurts or offends those around you.
Keep God as your first line of defense against built up anger or stress. Telling Him how you feel and taking time to talk it through with the Lord will give you the release you need to keep your heart free. God and I have had many conversations that began in anger and ended with me laughing. I’ll ask Him things like, “Did you see how she acted?” and “Did you hear what they said?” The delayed realization that my trusted Friend and Savior is also omnipresent, has often provided a bit of comic relief. Once I get it all out I’m reminded, that of course He knows what happened. Find comfort by reminding yourself that not only does He see, our God sees and cares. Certain strong emotions and stress when left unchecked can cause problems down the road. Keeping a journal of your feelings is also another way to let it go. Whichever outlet you choose, a friend, prayer, or writing, just remember that your anger will never achieve God righteous purpose. (James 1:20) When it’s called for repent and ask for forgiveness. (Psalm 139:1, 2) Keep stress and anger in its place; it belongs far away from your heart. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit; deal with your strong emotions when they occur.
How do you handle the end of a long and stressful day?
Here is a simple and straight forward article about anger.
- 5 Reasons you should let go of Anger/Stress (muhdlawal.wordpress.com)
Organizing the Inside – Day 297 Shouldn’t We Just Ignore the Critics?
Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? Galatians 4:16 (NLT)
I’ve always been a firm believer of not listening to the critics. Then something I read gave me great pause and caused me to realize that all criticism is not bad (I just never liked it). If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. Proverbs 13:18 (NLT)
We call it constructive criticism and every once in a while a good step-on-my-toes-you-need-to-change piece of advice is just what I need to get my act together. The flesh doesn’t like it, not one bit. Accepting criticism is not always easy especially when it exposes something you’d just assume not to deal with. So how can you tell when criticism is constructive and not destructive? It will take a bit of discernment, but by applying these questions you should be able to tell if the criticism you received is helpful. The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Proverbs 18:15 (NLT)
Discerning which criticism is worth listening to:
- If you heed to this advice it will change your life in a positive way.
- (My personal favorite) God has already told you and you kind of put off fixing the problem.
- If you heed to this advice it will help you maximize your potential by challenging you to dig deeper and stretch yourself.
- At first you may feel offended, but when you take time to honestly weigh the advice you realize heeding will likely make things better.
- Regardless of how you feel about the source, you know this is something that will help bring better balance in your life.
- By heeding to the advice, those around you will be blessed and this change is definitely a means of increasing the use of your gifts or talents.
- This advice fits appropriately into the vision that God has put on your heart.
Accept the truth gracefully.
Sometimes criticism is a type of forewarning that something in your life needs to change. The Holy Spirit will show you more clearly which type of criticism someone is giving. Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. Ecclesiastes 7:5 (NLT) Having tough skin is an essential element if you ever intend to grow. The criticism needed to help you become who God has called you to be won’t always be easy to accept. There are certain vitamins that I take daily to supplement the nutrition I receive from my diet. Some of them are huge (the fish oil) and really hard to swallow. Nevertheless, since I want to reap the benefit of those costly clear pills, I grab some water, say a prayer and fight back the fear of it getting stuck in my throat and swallow.
Weigh the matter.
The next time you receive constructive criticism; don’t be afraid to let your guard down long enough to consider the information. Should you conclude the criticism is negative or an attack on your character or positive outlook, simply drop it and move on. Criticism that is invalid and undeserving should be considered like a curse upon the innocent. Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. Proverbs 26:2 (NLT) Don’t miss the opportunity to move closer to being the person God wants you to be, because advice came from an unlikely source. If God can use a donkey, He can certainly use Aunt Susie to get His point across. Weigh the matter, if it’s for you to receive then God will give you peace. Seize every opportunity to grow in your vision and the work you do for the kingdom of God. The change you need most may come by way of constructive criticism. If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31 (NLT)
Organizing the Inside 365 Days 