Have you ever said something you later regretted? Perhaps it was a comment that didn’t even sound like yourself or reflect who you are, but it just came out badly. I am usually kind, respectful, and concerned about treating others rightly. However, on this particular occasion, I realized that I had spoken the truth without gentleness, and I became very distraught over the pain I had caused. It weighed heavily on my mind for days. What had happened to me to act like that?
The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart as I reflected on my actions. I felt moved to thank God for revealing this part of me that needed change. Every time this happens, we experience an opportunity to reassess our hearts and minds and deepen our relationship with the Lord. It simply requires a choice to listen to Him speak to our hearts and a willingness to surrender this part of ourselves to Him.
We are not entirely honest with God if we keep a small, imperfect part of ourselves locked away. We may appear to act rightly, but the heart has not been cleansed. The truly right thing to do is to follow Jesus' example of surrendering all He was to the Father. “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). Do you remember how Jesus acted when faced with ill-treatment? “When He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).
I analyzed why I hadn’t acted as Jesus would that day. I concluded that the enemy had provided a distraction. I had prayed that morning, prayed the night before, and even prayed in the elevator. However, I had neglected to pray when the problem suddenly arose. My focus was on certain issues, and I allowed myself to become disconnected from God for a brief moment—just enough time to be distracted by my thoughts instead of being filled with God’s grace. We should remember to “pray without ceasing” and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us.
Call to Action
“Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17
A few minutes without breathing can kill a person, just as a few moments without connecting to the mind of Jesus can cause harm.
Stay connected to God. Train your mind to connect with Him all the time.
As for now, I hold the hand of Jesus by pleading all the time for the Holy Spirit.
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
