Love Dare Day 6

"Love is Not Irritable"

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. -Proverbs 16:32

Yikes!  Today is good for me.  I tend to live "near the point of the knife."  Work last evening solitifid that quite clearly.  Every time the phone rang, there was a vibration noise that went right along with it.  It literally pushed me over the edge to the point of "snapping" at my co-worker.  I apologized and admitted why I was so "on edge."  It was a refining moment. 

I live there, on the edge.  I don't want to live there.  I don't want to be at my breaking point day after day.  I most certainly don't want that for my husband, children, friends, or co-workers.  I want to live in the calm, peaceful mainland. 

Why am I on the edge?  Why do I live "near the point of the knife?"  According to The Love Dare, there are two reasons for living there:  stress and selfishness. 

I think I landed both! 

Stess:
My mom's health, hubby's loss of job, hubby starting school, me being the bread winner, lots and lots of change; all in the past 6-8 weeks!  During this time, I have eaten like crap, not worked out once, and lived in a pit ("near the point of the knife").  Guess something needs to change!

Selfishness:
I have always been proud of NOT being selfish.  I think I need to rethink this.  Yes, I give and give to others, but my family gets the leftover, tired, icky women.  Lust (wanting what someone else has), bitterness (unforgiveness), anger (hurt), and pride (self protection) all rest there in my heart.  EWWWWW! 

The stress and selfishness will forever be if something doesn't change!  God, fill me with your overflowing love, so that my cup spills over and dumps all the ickiness out.  Please, God.  Forgive me for treating my husband disrespectfully, forgive me for wanting more than I deserve, forgive me for letting anger overtake me, forgive me for my pride!  I need You, Lord, for I cannot change on my own.  Help me, Lord, to be thankful and content for what I have, to be quick to forgive, rid me of my self-righteousness! In Jesus name, AMEN! 

TODAY'S DARE

Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

I always do my best to have a clear conscience towards God and men. -Acts 24:16

So far today, I've been very calm.  No tough circumstances to face.  Just a great family day! 

"Margins" needed in my schedule...not sure what this is, but here's what I'd like to change:

time spent on the computer VS quality family/couple time.

time spent at the gym must increase!

time spent teaching and playing with my kids must increase.

My motivations for change:

Love for my family/husband.

Desire to look and feel my best!

Desire to see my kids succeed.

Wrong motivations:
SELFISHNESS!  UGH!

Today, I want my heart to be full of love so there is no room for the leftover, tired, icky women!

All material taken from "The Love Dare" by Alex and Stephen Kendrick or Klove.com/blog.