James 1:19-21
My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry. If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done. You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message that is planted in you to save you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Most three-year-olds cannot control their temper or their tongue. They have not learned to use the right words or methods to express their feelings. So there are a lot of “I can’ts” and temper tantrums. Timothy told me one day, “I’m mad!” I asked why he was mad, and he couldn’t tell me. So he threw some toys and cried instead. As you can imagine, that really didn’t accomplish much!
I tried (unsuccessfully) to explain to Timothy that I might be able to help if I knew what made him mad. But we could not get anything done until we knew what problem we were addressing.
Even at a “grown-up” age, we are really no different. We still get angry over situations and lash out. We still behave irrationally and fail to truly spell out our issues, so that we can face them head-on. And we know better. God has equipped us with the ultimate tool for handling any and every situation… His Holy Spirit. All we have to do is stop and outline our situation… to say, “LORD, here I am… this is what’s going on… how do I proceed?”… and to trust Him to show us what needs to get done.
Instead, we often forge ahead on our own. The devil sits on our shoulder and rubs his hands greedily. And with the tiniest window of opportunity, he jumps in and says, “I think you should do it THIS way,” or “Nobody’s going to help you… you might as well have a little fun, get drunk or high, rant and rave and throw a fit…or simply give up.” Insert whatever trips your trigger here… because we all have the propensity to succumb to Satan’s voice if we are not watchful and diligent in our efforts to listen to the Holy Spirit!
Stay on your guard, and ask God to help you control your temper. Learn to express what is bothering you to the Holy Spirit… and to seek His guidance for how to handle even the smallest of everyday challenges. Not every day will be a bed of roses. Tests will come… trials and tribulations are inevitable. But God has planted a message of hope in your heart. He has equipped you with the full armor of His Holy Spirit, and you.can.do.this! Your job is to listen and pay attention. How are you doing so far?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label temper tantrums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label temper tantrums. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 17, 2012
Proverbs 15:18
Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am reminded once again of Emily Litella, Gilda Radner’s character on “Saturday Night Live.” Litella was a little old lady who was hard of hearing. She appeared during the “Weekend Update” newscast with Chevy Chase and/or Jane Curtin. Emily Litella got things all mixed up and made a huge fuss over nothing. For instance, once there was a “news” report about a Supreme Court ruling on the death penalty, and she “heard” the reporter say “deaf” penalty. She went ballistic! Deaf people had enough problems already! In all of these spoofs, the “reporter” was finally able to get Litella to calm down, and the misunderstanding could be explained. Litella always replied, “Oh, that’s different! Never mind!”
We are all “Emily Litella” at one time or another. Whether we fail to listen carefully or to gather all the facts… or we fly off the handle in what we feel is a justified reaction…losing our temper can cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Do you remember the scripture verses in John 8 where a crowd gathered and tried to get Jesus to condemn an adulterous woman? Do you remember how Jesus quietly kept drawing in the dirt? With one sentence, He diffused the situation. He did not rant and rave. He didn’t stomp his feet and jump up and down. He did not yell and scream. Jesus merely said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” And then He began to write in the dirt again.
Some of us seem to be “wired” to fly off the handle. But we can change this. We can ask God to give us wisdom, patience, tolerance… and control. We can ask Him to help us count to ten, breathe deeply, or take time to pray… to do whatever is necessary to remain calm and avoid trouble. Arguments are almost never productive… and in most cases, they can cause real, lasting problems.
Let’s all work on controlling our temper and staying calm. With God’s help, We.Can.Do.This! Let’s ask Him to show us how to exercise self-control… and to give us the necessary tools to avoid conflict. We don’t want to find ourselves in a position where we have to admit, “that’s different”… much less utter, “Never mind!” Put your “Emily Litella” persona to rest and start emulating Jesus. Learn to draw in the dirt… and do your best to stay out of trouble!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am reminded once again of Emily Litella, Gilda Radner’s character on “Saturday Night Live.” Litella was a little old lady who was hard of hearing. She appeared during the “Weekend Update” newscast with Chevy Chase and/or Jane Curtin. Emily Litella got things all mixed up and made a huge fuss over nothing. For instance, once there was a “news” report about a Supreme Court ruling on the death penalty, and she “heard” the reporter say “deaf” penalty. She went ballistic! Deaf people had enough problems already! In all of these spoofs, the “reporter” was finally able to get Litella to calm down, and the misunderstanding could be explained. Litella always replied, “Oh, that’s different! Never mind!”
We are all “Emily Litella” at one time or another. Whether we fail to listen carefully or to gather all the facts… or we fly off the handle in what we feel is a justified reaction…losing our temper can cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Do you remember the scripture verses in John 8 where a crowd gathered and tried to get Jesus to condemn an adulterous woman? Do you remember how Jesus quietly kept drawing in the dirt? With one sentence, He diffused the situation. He did not rant and rave. He didn’t stomp his feet and jump up and down. He did not yell and scream. Jesus merely said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” And then He began to write in the dirt again.
Some of us seem to be “wired” to fly off the handle. But we can change this. We can ask God to give us wisdom, patience, tolerance… and control. We can ask Him to help us count to ten, breathe deeply, or take time to pray… to do whatever is necessary to remain calm and avoid trouble. Arguments are almost never productive… and in most cases, they can cause real, lasting problems.
Let’s all work on controlling our temper and staying calm. With God’s help, We.Can.Do.This! Let’s ask Him to show us how to exercise self-control… and to give us the necessary tools to avoid conflict. We don’t want to find ourselves in a position where we have to admit, “that’s different”… much less utter, “Never mind!” Put your “Emily Litella” persona to rest and start emulating Jesus. Learn to draw in the dirt… and do your best to stay out of trouble!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 15, 2012
Ephesians 4:26-32
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work. Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our little Timothy has a new phrase… “I can’t.” For him, this phrase is multi-purpose – and used in a lot of situations. “I can’t go to bed! I can’t take a bath! I can’t eat that! I can’t build anything with my blocks!” You get the picture. Experts tell us that small children use phrases like this because they have not fully developed the language skills to express what is really bothering them. They also say that arguing with the child does not work… and may, in fact, escalate the situation into a full-blown tantrum. The recommendation is to be patient… to allow the child room to work out his/her differences in a non-confrontational setting… and if possible, to distract him/her and redirect the focus.
We know firsthand how challenging this is. And yet, we must begin at this young age to teach children how to use their words properly… how to “vent” their frustrations without anger or foul language… and how hurtful ugly talk can be to others – and to themselves.
As we grow, we must learn to control our temper – and our tongue. There are going to be plenty of things that irritate us… and maybe even drive us to anger. But when we let this fester and color our attitudes and behaviors, the devil wins. When we erupt in a confrontation and a plethora of foul words and hurtful comments, we give Satan a dozen reasons to celebrate. When we share untruths and lie, we cheat others – and ourselves – God is seriously grieved.
We sometimes forget that we have been given tremendous gifts… intelligence, talents, abilities, wit, and the skills to communicate with others. With these gifts come incredible responsibilities. God wants us to use the power of the Holy Spirit within us… manifested through our tongue and our actions… to glorify His holy name. He wants us to be a blessing to others… to share love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. When we stoop to Satan’s level and use our words and actions in a confrontational, dishonest, or spiteful manner, we grieve God… and our “witness” is an epic fail.
Timothy will learn to express himself… and with our help, he will hopefully do so in a rational, calm, positive manner - most of the time! Those of us who are a little past the 3-year-old stage would do well to spend a while in communication with God and ask Him to help us get back on track. Examine your own life… your actions and words and how you treat others. Where do you need an attitude adjustment… and a taming of the tongue? Are you ready to operate in a manner that merits the tremendous gifts God has given you? Isn’t it time to get started?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work. Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our little Timothy has a new phrase… “I can’t.” For him, this phrase is multi-purpose – and used in a lot of situations. “I can’t go to bed! I can’t take a bath! I can’t eat that! I can’t build anything with my blocks!” You get the picture. Experts tell us that small children use phrases like this because they have not fully developed the language skills to express what is really bothering them. They also say that arguing with the child does not work… and may, in fact, escalate the situation into a full-blown tantrum. The recommendation is to be patient… to allow the child room to work out his/her differences in a non-confrontational setting… and if possible, to distract him/her and redirect the focus.
We know firsthand how challenging this is. And yet, we must begin at this young age to teach children how to use their words properly… how to “vent” their frustrations without anger or foul language… and how hurtful ugly talk can be to others – and to themselves.
As we grow, we must learn to control our temper – and our tongue. There are going to be plenty of things that irritate us… and maybe even drive us to anger. But when we let this fester and color our attitudes and behaviors, the devil wins. When we erupt in a confrontation and a plethora of foul words and hurtful comments, we give Satan a dozen reasons to celebrate. When we share untruths and lie, we cheat others – and ourselves – God is seriously grieved.
We sometimes forget that we have been given tremendous gifts… intelligence, talents, abilities, wit, and the skills to communicate with others. With these gifts come incredible responsibilities. God wants us to use the power of the Holy Spirit within us… manifested through our tongue and our actions… to glorify His holy name. He wants us to be a blessing to others… to share love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. When we stoop to Satan’s level and use our words and actions in a confrontational, dishonest, or spiteful manner, we grieve God… and our “witness” is an epic fail.
Timothy will learn to express himself… and with our help, he will hopefully do so in a rational, calm, positive manner - most of the time! Those of us who are a little past the 3-year-old stage would do well to spend a while in communication with God and ask Him to help us get back on track. Examine your own life… your actions and words and how you treat others. Where do you need an attitude adjustment… and a taming of the tongue? Are you ready to operate in a manner that merits the tremendous gifts God has given you? Isn’t it time to get started?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 11, 2012
Proverbs 14:29
It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For the first two-plus years of his life, my nephew Timothy suffered from night terrors. Nearly every night, he would go to sleep at bedtime with minor fanfare, only to “wake” an hour or so later (like clockwork)… screaming inconsolably. After several weeks of this, we learned that he was not truly awake… that he was experiencing something known as “night terrors.” He could not transition into a deeper sleep pattern… but he could not wake up, either. To say this was frustrating would be a major understatement. And I could readily see how easy it would be to lose patience - and sadly for some children, how a parent could lash out in frustration.
Timothy could not help this… he was totally unaware of it. In the words of this scripture translation, it would be stupid to be mad at him for this inability to sleep soundly. And as much as we wanted to scream and cry with him many nights, we did our best to console him… pat his back, wipe his tears, and soothe him until he was able to calm himself and drift into a deeper sleep pattern… and to be patient with him.
We can all see how ridiculous it is to lose our temper with a toddler. We understand that the child cannot truly be held responsible for many of his/her actions and is still learning how to function in our world. And we understand the temper tantrums of said babies… they have no foundation yet for handling the challenges and irritations with which they are presented. As children grow, we begin to expect more from them. Often, as they learn to exercise patience, we tend to lose our own!
Patience is an acquired characteristic! We are aided in this process by those in our circle who demonstrate this trait – and the coping mechanisms needed to achieve it. Hopefully, we also come to understand that God will help us. We can ask Him to give us patience… to help us control our temper… and to keep us from behaving stupidly!
There is a delicate balance in play here… one we simply must master. I urge you to spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you control your temper… to equip you with patience for all circumstances… and to help you to always operate in a manner that is pleasing and honorable to Him. None of us are toddlers. We can no longer make excuses! It’s time to grow up and be responsible. With God’s help, We.Can.Do.This! Are you with me?!
©2012 Debbie Robus
It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For the first two-plus years of his life, my nephew Timothy suffered from night terrors. Nearly every night, he would go to sleep at bedtime with minor fanfare, only to “wake” an hour or so later (like clockwork)… screaming inconsolably. After several weeks of this, we learned that he was not truly awake… that he was experiencing something known as “night terrors.” He could not transition into a deeper sleep pattern… but he could not wake up, either. To say this was frustrating would be a major understatement. And I could readily see how easy it would be to lose patience - and sadly for some children, how a parent could lash out in frustration.
Timothy could not help this… he was totally unaware of it. In the words of this scripture translation, it would be stupid to be mad at him for this inability to sleep soundly. And as much as we wanted to scream and cry with him many nights, we did our best to console him… pat his back, wipe his tears, and soothe him until he was able to calm himself and drift into a deeper sleep pattern… and to be patient with him.
We can all see how ridiculous it is to lose our temper with a toddler. We understand that the child cannot truly be held responsible for many of his/her actions and is still learning how to function in our world. And we understand the temper tantrums of said babies… they have no foundation yet for handling the challenges and irritations with which they are presented. As children grow, we begin to expect more from them. Often, as they learn to exercise patience, we tend to lose our own!
Patience is an acquired characteristic! We are aided in this process by those in our circle who demonstrate this trait – and the coping mechanisms needed to achieve it. Hopefully, we also come to understand that God will help us. We can ask Him to give us patience… to help us control our temper… and to keep us from behaving stupidly!
There is a delicate balance in play here… one we simply must master. I urge you to spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you control your temper… to equip you with patience for all circumstances… and to help you to always operate in a manner that is pleasing and honorable to Him. None of us are toddlers. We can no longer make excuses! It’s time to grow up and be responsible. With God’s help, We.Can.Do.This! Are you with me?!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 2, 2012
Psalm 37:4-8
Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart's desire. Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help. Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun that you were right. Be patient and trust the LORD. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things. Don't be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We are apparently wired from birth to experience anger. How else would toddlers know to throw temper tantrums? Where would little children learn to lash out – at one another and at us? And even at young ages, the results of anger are often what most of us would consider “sinful”… bad behavior and “meltdowns,” physical abuse or mistreatment, and a generally poor attitude. Let’s face it… Satan is not picky about age. The younger he can gain a stronghold in our lives, the better!
But this is not the real point I want to stress today. What I want to emphasize is that we are all wired for anger, but we must not surrender to it. We must learn to rest in the LORD and let Him have control, rather than succumb to the ramifications of irritation and fury in our own lives. And we must do our part to teach children (of all ages) to do this, as well.
Does this mean that we will not be affected by news reports of injustice and mistreatment? Will we wear our rose-colored glasses and never get emotional when we see people get by with crime or dishonesty? When someone “does us wrong,” will we feel nothing? Absolutely not! But where and how we channel the energy of these emotions is what matters. We can be angry and furious… and open ourselves wide for the devil to step in and cause us to say things we shouldn’t, drive us to drink, or make us act out inappropriately… or we can turn to God, trust Him to help, and wait patiently for His response.
The next time something angers you… the next time you are bothered by some news or something you witness – or some injustice hurled in your direction… stop, breathe, listen... PRAY! Ask God to handle things according to HIS will, then give Him time and leeway to do so. Make sure that your words, actions and desires line up with God’s will. Do what pleases Him, trust Him to act as judge and jury over others, and bask in the blessings He will send your way.
When we get angry, nobody wins but Satan. Don’t give Him any victories… even for a second! Stay focused and still… and wait for the “good stuff” that God is getting ready to send your way.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart's desire. Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help. Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun that you were right. Be patient and trust the LORD. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things. Don't be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We are apparently wired from birth to experience anger. How else would toddlers know to throw temper tantrums? Where would little children learn to lash out – at one another and at us? And even at young ages, the results of anger are often what most of us would consider “sinful”… bad behavior and “meltdowns,” physical abuse or mistreatment, and a generally poor attitude. Let’s face it… Satan is not picky about age. The younger he can gain a stronghold in our lives, the better!
But this is not the real point I want to stress today. What I want to emphasize is that we are all wired for anger, but we must not surrender to it. We must learn to rest in the LORD and let Him have control, rather than succumb to the ramifications of irritation and fury in our own lives. And we must do our part to teach children (of all ages) to do this, as well.
Does this mean that we will not be affected by news reports of injustice and mistreatment? Will we wear our rose-colored glasses and never get emotional when we see people get by with crime or dishonesty? When someone “does us wrong,” will we feel nothing? Absolutely not! But where and how we channel the energy of these emotions is what matters. We can be angry and furious… and open ourselves wide for the devil to step in and cause us to say things we shouldn’t, drive us to drink, or make us act out inappropriately… or we can turn to God, trust Him to help, and wait patiently for His response.
The next time something angers you… the next time you are bothered by some news or something you witness – or some injustice hurled in your direction… stop, breathe, listen... PRAY! Ask God to handle things according to HIS will, then give Him time and leeway to do so. Make sure that your words, actions and desires line up with God’s will. Do what pleases Him, trust Him to act as judge and jury over others, and bask in the blessings He will send your way.
When we get angry, nobody wins but Satan. Don’t give Him any victories… even for a second! Stay focused and still… and wait for the “good stuff” that God is getting ready to send your way.
©2012 Debbie Robus
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