u-turns are good!

Friends, there are days that we wish had been a little different... and that we'd done something differently.  One person hurt someone very dear to me with words, and when I heard about it this evening I was angry.  Now, there is a righteous anger and we're allowed to feel that; we are to pray and to speak if it is necessary... and as I'm looking at the Word tonight, there are so many verses and instructions for this. 

Just a few verses from Ephesians :

"Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil and opportunity." 4:25-27

 

"Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear."  4:29

 

Then the famous verse in James :-)  "...let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God."  -James 1:19-20

I've promised to live by this Book, and love this Book, and read this Book... and still I make mistakes.  :-/  Tonight the mistake was when someone in my inner circle asked me what was wrong (they can usually tell at a glance :) I  TALKED TOO MUCH.  I had prayed, but then I talked and thought and became weary trying to know what I should do.  :-/  I wish I'd done that differently. 

"The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer..."  -Proverbs 15:28   I knew that.

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles." -Proverbs 21:23 

"He who restrains his words has knowledge, & he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding."

-Proverbs 17:27

I knew I should have been self-controlled and only explained what was necessary, and then gone straight to God & His Word & prayed earnestly before saying anything else.  Which is what I'm doing now, and what I will keep doing.  U-Turns are good. :-)

Do you ever find that you do this too?  God's shown you the best way, and once in a while you come across something in life, and you delay doing it that way and end up off course? 

So I told the Lord I was sorry, and also ..." that I am so disappointed.  Lacking self-control feels crummy, and God, how am I worthy now for all the amazing things you've been doing... and how could you work through me tomorrow?  God, I'm a little discouraged."

Do you ever find yourself here at the end of the day, and ask God that too?  If so, be encouraged... good news... here's how God ended those worries:

 

"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. 

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness."

                                                                                                             -Lam. 3:21-25

I always think it's particularly funny when God does this for me. Really, what are the chances of opening the Word, landing in Lamentations, and the verse right there is the perfect word of encouragement!  :-)

Great is the Lord, and worthy to be praised!