Thanks be to God, Who Gives Us the Victory

My posting today is from 1 Corinthians 15:57, "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

If you have read some of my postings, you know that I tend to get caught up in emotional or anxiety related issues. I like to call this getting trapped in "self-stuff". As Joyce Meyer's likes to demonstrate with her robotic like action humor, "What about me? -- What about me!" Now, when I tend to get caught up or over-react I see her image and find myself repeating that mantra. Then I just start laughing and my issues are gone. Isn't laughter wonderful!

About this time last year I found that I wrote in my journal praise for receiving a victory over my emotions; someone that I worked with was always "pushing my buttons". It got to whenever I saw this person coming, I would cringe with fear. The person had a sense of humor that tended to "bite", if you know what I mean. If their attempt at humor didn't leave one in tears, it left one in an angry mood. Well that day was one of those challenging days and as I wrote in my journal, "Praise be to God that I didn't allow them to cause me to speak harshly or to feel so wounded that I began to cry. (I hate it when I lose control and cry -- I am working on this one and getting better every day!)

To my amazement, I was able to basically overlook their actions and words (as if the incident didn't happen or I didn't hear it or the Lord focused me on what was really important.) I found myself sticking to the job at hand and set aside all the other "stuff" -- no added emotions on my part! Then, later on that day I noticed that their behavior was changing for the good. Hmmm, who changed? Was it me that changed? ...or perhaps my behavior didn't keep them stirred up?

Whatever the reason, I learned something really important that day. I am in control of my own reactions to my environment. As long as I allow the Holy Spirit to guide me, and I am quiet enough to hear, I will always make the right decision. I ended my journal entry that day with, "Thank you God for giving me the victory over my emotions and my mouth today! Through my actions your light shone brighter today through me."

"Count your blessings. Once your realize how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence " -- Og Mandino

I hope I remember this quote for a very long time! I am very thankful for the blessings God has bestowed on me. It is true that my smiles are beginning to return as I learn to make priorities, be forgiving of myself, look for the good in situations and truly believe God is in full control of my life. He has a purpose for me, He has a plan for me and I am enjoying the revelation.