Day 204 Restraint

Isn't it interesting that at the heart of the economic recession is lack of "restraint". We would do well to recession proof our parenting and home life with restraint and self control, it just shows that these things do matter.

Proverbs 17 :27"A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered".

Blessed are the meek....for they shall inherit the earth. Meek means "power with restraint" not some mealy mouth weakling. To help us understand, visualize a 15 hand horse rearing up its front legs as its being restrained by its rider. Feel the fear and adrenaline pump not just in your body but you sense the horses also as you feel his heart beat through the saddle as you feel your heart beat in your throat. The whole environment is tense and its up to you, the rider, to keep the animal harnessed. (If you get a chance see the film "King Arthur" there is plenty of horse rearing and restraint in the movie.)

Maybe that is the restraint we will need to harness today! The question is are we accustomed to the horse and gotten the skills to maneuver him successfully?

Adrenaline is pumped by Fear and we are programmed to either fight or take flight. That's just biology, even our inactivity gives way to distorted imaginings if not addressed properly.

Romans 8:6 tell us the the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace, v 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.And by him we cry, "Abba,Father."

The anxieties and fears of life are always with us, it's how we handle them in the light of being a child of God, who dwells among us. So what to do?...is the question.

James tells us to begin with harnessing our tongues James 1 26"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless". Chapter 3 gives more details.

James 4:7 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Come near to God and he will come near to you".
If we begin there, then we can understand and reign in our emotions when situations of life cause us to either fight or take off, when what we need to do is "stand firm and resist"