What IF I Examined my beliefs each time I am annoyed with someone?

People can bug us. While we are being completely annoyed by whatever they are doing that is driving us crazy, it’s probably good to take a good hard look at ourselves instead. Don’t get me wrong, I know that people can be weird, insensitive, and downright annoying. But if we spend our lives only pointing our finger at others, we will miss out on the amazing blessing of God changing us from within. Much of what we “feel” about others has to do with what we believe. Our beliefs are in need of constant tune up with God’s word, His wisdom, and His heart.

Example:

1. Event: You work with someone who honestly drives you crazy. You are sick of her droaning on and on about her problems, and just want to run as far from her as you can.
2. Belief: This woman is a nut case and not worth my time. I don’t have to like this woman or have anything to do with her. This woman makes me crazy.
3. Feelings: You don’t like her…at all.
4. Actions: You snub her, don’t reach out to her, stay away from her, etc…

Examine:

It’s not #1 that is the problem. You can not control how another person acts, and life will always be filled with annoyances.

Numbers #3 and #4 are not honoring to God, but they are a direct result of #2.

Time to go to the BELIEF and line it up with Scripture and ask God to give you his heart for her.

Turning it around:

1. Event: You work with someone who honestly drives you crazy.
2. Replace Your Flesh with Truth.…Belief: God loves this woman and created her. You line up your life to God’s Truth now ” Live a life worthy of what God chose you for. Don’t be proud at all. Be completely gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2
3. Feelings: You begin to see her through different eyes, God’s eyes. The more you tell yourself the truth and get the truth into your heart about who she is to God, the more you begin to soften towards her.
4. Actions: You dare to care, to reach out, to be an extension of Jesus to this woman who, in the flesh, drives you crazy.

In the flesh we are selfish and everything is only about what’s in it for “us”. If someone bugs me, then I will have nothing to do with them. But, that is not how Jesus taught people to walk in the Spirit, is it? We can not walk in the Spirit in our own strength…we must walk in His power, and according to His standards, thus replacing our bad beliefs with truth from God’s perspective.

This little exercise might help you learn to examine the “why” in some of your situations. The goal is the following:

1. Event: something happens, bad or good
2. Belief: all churning gets settled at this step, as we become more and more skilled at what God’s word of Truth is requiring of us, speaking to us, or wanting to make real in us.
3. Feelings: I want to do God’s will
4. Actions: I dare to learn to live in the Spirit, even though I might have to wrestle with the truth, I end up walking in it.

Live Up! today. Today is a Gift.

Live, Breathe, Move about in God…and be Thankful!

Today’s Prayer

Father, I want to be who you have called me to be. I want to line my life up with your word of truth. I am thankful that you don’t expect overnight results, but are working in me always. I come to you with the things that I assume or believe that are flesh and not spirit. Change me Jesus, one event at a time. And, may I please you in surrender of my will to yours.