One morning last week, as I was driving to the office, another driver flipped me off. It was really unnecessary, as it usually is, but it really made a flash of anger burst over me and I was forced to center my spirit and remember Who I belong to, and that I am not to respond in a negative way. It was so crazy because I wasn’t looking for trouble or trying to make trouble, but because of a misunderstanding in traffic, someone’s lack of maturity was thrust upon me and I was then forced to face myself.
What do I mean by that? Well, I was forced to see what my first response to offense would be. In other words, what comes out of us at times like that, reflects what is in our hearts.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45
And therein lies the victory of that particular moment. In the past I may have flown the bird right back at her, but this time my involuntary response was to smile and wave. Hallelujah! Ha Ha!
Hey, that’s a victory for me!
But after, I felt this irritation trying to rest on me. Then I had to search out a healthy way to process. Who knew a split-second encounter with someone whom I will likely never see again, would lead me to such a lengthy process of self-reflection and a need to forgive a stranger, but it did.
This all made me think about our momentary encounters with the world and how we are really responsible for learning to manage ourselves in a way that would glorify the Father, no matter what. When we are out in the world running errands, working and living life, we are still ambassadors. We carry Him within us at all times, so we are always responsible for our behavior.
I wanted to use today as another encouragement to go out and bless the world in which you live.
Wherever you go today, make a deliberate decision to be a blessing. Even when you are somewhere being served, decide to also serve them with kindness. Be a light. Let His light shine through you. Be a beckon of hope and light and joy into the world. You may be the only Jesus that they see.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Proverbs 10:11
All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart- the lamp of the wicked- are sin. Proverbs 21:2-4
365 Days in the Presence 