Who’s In Charge?

If your sinful old self is the boss over your mind, it leads to death. But if the Holy Spirit is the boss over your mind, it leads to life and peace.

Well, next time I’ll just . . . Shaking my head in an attempt to hush my angry internal tirade, I sighed as I reached for my second cup of coffee.

I was frustrated. Frustrated with the mad scramble to find a missing notebook just as we were supposed to be out the door for school, frustrated with the tension in the car as my kids scrambled out to beat the first bell, frustrated with the small argument I’d had with Aaron even before we were missing the notebook or were late to school.

Everything about the morning had gone awry, and the little voice in my head desperately wanted to continue picking fights with my kids and Aaron, despite their being in other places and unable to respond.

Taking a deep, calming breath, I determined I’d had enough. I sent my husband a text prayer, praying a specific blessing over his busy day filled with meetings and a big presentation. I finished by reminding him of my love for him, for us, for our family.

And as I set the phone back down, I prayed for myself: Lord, help me let this go. Help me have grace for him, our kids, and myself. Give me peace to go about my day. Help me to release this frustration. Help me redeem today.

Living in community with others—parents, siblings, a spouse, kids, roommates, neighbors, church family, friends, coworkers—brings moments of frustration, misunderstanding, irritation, and anger. It also brings laughter, joy, contentment, peace, support, and love.

The beautiful thing is that we have control. We choose who gets to be boss in our mind: our old, sinful nature or the Holy Spirit. Isn’t that a refreshing revelation? Regardless of what the world tries to tell us, we decide which emotions we feed and which we starve. We are not victims of our negative feelings. Our decision to follow Jesus provided a new way, and in that way lies peace, redemption, and life.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Be intentional about starving negative emotions.