28 May Do I Justify Or Take Responsibility In How I Respond To Others?

Yesterday morning my daughter and I were taking showers in separate areas of the house.
When she got out of the shower she did not see a towel, so she stood in the bathroom and continually, over and over, started screaming MOM!
Because she was screaming, she could not hear me trying to respond.
After about the 18th time of hearing her scream mom (without taking a breath), and having to walk across the house wet to answer her,
Needless to say I did not point nicely to the towel hanging above her head.
Nor was I as patient in tone, as I should have been, explaining to her how to handle the situation next time properly….
Then I hurried off to finish my shower

Throughout the day I began to feel convicted…
I have a choice in how I respond to people.

So many times it’s easy to justify (bad behavior) why we responded ‘in this way’ or ‘that way’ because it gives us an EXCUSE to act the way we did.
You may walk around and find favor for the way you acted when you share with people throughout the day, why you did what you did, but your only deceiving yourself when you do this.

Truth is that we are responsible to God, on our part, for our response!
And they are responsible to God, on their part, for their response!
No matter what our FEELINGS ARE SCREAMING at us in the moment,
No matter how DIFFICULT THE OTHER PERSON IS or HOW THEIR ACTING,
Whether we’re right or wrong about what were even fighting about….
If our response is opposite of God’s character or the fruit of the Spirit, then we are just as guilty.

It would have been easy to put the responsibility on her and justify why my actions were to follow…
I can think of a few people in Genesis that did the same thing.

When you continually justify yourself/actions or blame others, nothing ever changes.
And instead of allowing obstacles to make a relationship better, it instead makes it bitter.

When pondering what the Holy Spirit was showing me, he said,
Don’t apologize to her as if it was her fault for what you did but rather take responsibility for how you acted,
whether she was right or wrong.
Take responsibility for your part.
conversation over.

It takes humility and maturity on your part when you do not justify why you were right.
Stop pointing fingers and just focus on yourself. (this makes God happy)
You’ve heard the saying, two wrongs do not make a right.

The word encourages us to be blameless and pure in heart,
Acting as children of God.
Turning the other cheek (humility),
and being kind to those who come against us.
Taking no offense with the person because the person is not who we are fighting against.

I believe that every time you act as God would have you act, you are showing the enemy that you are not going to fall for his schemes.

Another thing God has been showing me is how important it is for us to build that foundation for our children.
Being the example to them so that as they grow up, it will be normal to them.
Whatever examples they grow up with is usually what they end up living out in their relationships, friendships and one day marriage.

It’s goes against what’s normal and pleasing to our flesh
but it is pleasing to God.
Less regrets. Less relationship wounding too.

Holy Spirit, open my eyes and teach me more in this area.
Help me to stop and listen, in the moment, pushing my feelings aside…..
When I hear you tell me to respond in a certain way, would you help me in being ,obedient.
May I not be quick to respond to someone and may I be willing to listen to them, as I am also listening to you.
Change and soften my heart Lord.
And through my circumstances, change me.
Teach me how to love even when I feel like I’m being fought against.
Because in the end all that matters to me is not winning, but being pleasing in your sight.