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Friday, March 5, 2021

Purity 358: Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship


Purity 358  03/05/2021  Purity 358 Podcast

Good morning and Thank God Its Friday!

Today’s photo is just the perfect analogy for Friday as a friend has captured this stunning shot of a pathway lined with palm trees that leads to the ocean and sun. It just beckons us to just walk down that path to the beach, and the weekend ahead.   My friend is vacationing in Florida and this pic was presumably taken in Naples Florida, but that’s only my best guess because my friend is not staying in one place. They have seen the Florida Keys, Naples, Dunedin, and Orlando so far and they plan on going to Boca Raton, Daytona, and Winter Haven as well.  

I just love my friend’s adventurous spirit that says, “I want to see it all!”   Staying in one place has its merits but using your vacation to travel to see multiple places is an exciting way to travel as every day, or every few days, you experience new sights. Their journey really inspires me to go see something new this weekend even if it will be limited to my local area.  Life is meant to be lived and our ability to move should not be wasted.

Our walk with God should be the same way. We should continuously be seeking the Lord and asking Him to show us something new.  He wants you to know Him better and when you seek His wisdom and ways there is no telling what incredible things He will bring to you.   

So this weekend, if your up for something new, go do something that haven’t done before or go to some place you haven’t been, but when you do remember that God is with you and thank Him for all that He provides and welcome Him into your experience. 

(An Audio version of this message is available at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, you can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D).) There is more content at the restricted blog. Follow me on Twitter or MeWe for easy access.  Blog M T 4 Christ dot org – This is where the Facebook post ends.)

This morning’s meditation verses are:

Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Todays verse is actually quite timely, as the previous verse, that says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…”  was highlighted at my local church last Sunday.

This phrase from verse 5 was repeated by several people in corporate prayer, was in one of the worship songs, and was delivered as part of a spontaneous prophetic word to the church – all without collusion or planning by the people in question.  It has popped up in several church member’s daily experience since then.  

When things like this happen, it becomes clear that the Lord has a word for us.  The word from verse 5 is that God provides for us even in hostile environments.  Right now is possibly one of the most hostile times for the Christian Faith in the history of the United States as COVID-19 has cause significant drops in church attendance and certain political agendas are being pushed that could severely limit our religious freedoms.  So God is letting us know that He will continue to provide for those who place their faith in Him. 

So it’s no surprise to me that out of the stack of over a hundred index cards that I draw from for our daily verse, that the next verse from Psalm 23 would come up.  Psalm 23:6 declares that goodness and mercy should follow us, the faithful, for all our days of our lives and, that no matter where we go or what we will face, we will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.   

I invite all to mt4chritst.org where I always share insights from prominent Christian counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk. 

 

Today we will share from Dr. June Hunt’s Biblical Counseling Keys on “Anger: Facing the Fire Within”

As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage all to purchase Dr. Hunt’s books for your own private study and to support her work:

C. How to Measure the Amount of Your Anger

Before firefighters respond to any alarm, they measure the intensity of the emergency and then rally the necessary resources.

A 1-alarm fire is considered the least serious, usually dispatching to the scene two pumper trucks, a rescue unit, a ladder truck, and a supervising chief. A 2-alarm fire doubles the response of a 1-alarm call.

In situations considered 3-alarm to 5-alarm fires, besides adding more of the above, trucks storing oxygen and area lighting are also sent to the scene, along with a crew for media relations and food and water replenishments for firefighters.

Similar to the standard procedure of firefighters, taking the time to measure your anger is necessary for knowing how to put the fire of anger out.

Have you seriously thought about how much anger you are holding inside your heart and toward whom you feel angry? See the pie-shaped outline on the following page. Divide the pie into segments and put a specific name inside each segment to represent the amount of anger you feel toward the different people in your life (past or present). See the sample "Anger Pie," which shows general categories.

As you think about your own anger, consider what the Bible says....

"Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:20)

D. How to Analyze Your Anger

Fire investigators have the responsibility of analyzing the aftermath of a fire to determine where the fire started, what started it, and why it got out of control. The goal is to formulate a plan to prevent such fires from getting started in the future and to control and extinguish them should they break out again. Likewise, analyzing your anger will help you determine where it started, what started it, and why it got out of control... but also how to prevent it and how to control it should it break out again.

To better understand your anger, each time you feel angry, stop and ask yourself key thought-provoking questions. Analyzing your thoughts and actions can help you move from being controlled by your anger to benefiting from your anger. As you practice patience and gain understanding, you will be able to use your anger for God's purpose, which, in turn, will prevent foolish displays of anger you later regret. Remember...

"A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." (Proverbs 14:29)

The Anger Quiz

As you answer each question, think for a moment and answer as honestly as you can....

  • What triggers your anger?
  • How do you generally express your anger?
  • What do you desire when you are angry?
  • Is the way you express your anger working for you? Do you get what you desire?
  • Do you ever lose control of your anger? If so, when was the first time you did... and what happened?
  • Are you able to calm your anger? If so, what do you do?
  • Have you allowed your anger to escalate? If so, what happened?
  • Is your anger harming your relationships? If so, how?
  • Has your anger ever caused any health problems? If so, what?
  • Do others point out your anger even if you don't see it? If so, when, and what do they say?
  • Does your anger ever become physical? If so, how and how often?
  • When you get angry, how safe do you feel?
  • When you get angry, how safe do others feel?
  • Did anyone in your childhood home have an anger problem? If so, who, and how were you impacted back then?
  • As a child, how did you feel when you were on the receiving end of someone's anger?
  • Do you think anger from your childhood could still be impacting you today? If so, how?
  • Do you have difficulty forgiving those toward whom you have anger? If so, explain.
  • Do you have someone wise to talk with about your anger?
  • Do you ever pray about your anger? If so, what do you pray?
  • What is your view of God in the midst of angering situations?
  • How do you think you should respond to God when you feel angry?
  • How do you think you should respond to others when you feel angry?
  • What can you learn from a recent anger problem that will help you better handle your anger in the future?

When you honestly analyze your anger, you are taking the first step toward controlling your temper rather than letting your temper control you....

"Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." (Proverbs 16:32)


Biblical Counseling Keys - Biblical Counseling Keys – Biblical Counseling Keys: Anger: Facing the Fire Within.

----------------------------more tomorrow -------------------------

 

God bless you all!

 

Join our Victory over the Darkness Discipleship Class via the mt4christ247 podcast!

at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mt4christ247s-podcast/id1551615154) and Google podcasts (https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL210NGNocmlzdDI0Ny9mZWVkLnhtbA%3D%3D

Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and to be encouraged.

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