mepastormike

I was reminded of a great truth this morning... my feelings are my business. They are not about anyone else. My feelings are not right or wrong, they are about what is happening inside of me. If I take the time to explore my feelings then I can come away with tremendous insight. Yesterday I had two issues come before me and I had to work inside myself to choose not to react immediately to my feelings. Instead I allowed the issues to cook inside my head and I had a chance to explore the feelings that were associated with them. By doing this I prayed specifically for God's intervention and for the concerns that they are causing me. Neither issue needed my intervention. Sometimes my "Mr. fix-it" mode wants to kick in too quickly... motivated by those immediate feelings (usually the feelings of sad and scared).
My reading took me to Ezra, chapter 9. Ezra was approached by the leaders of the Israelite nation and they told him what was happening that was wrong... And I believe the leaders wanted Ezra to "fix-it." Ezra's immediate response was not to react to what was being told to him. Instead he went to God in prayer and shared, not only what had been told him, but I believe Ezra's prayer was a way of exploring what he was feeling. His prayer was for the corporate body, but from his heart.
O God, may I understand more fully that no one can make me mad, or sad, or glad, or scared. Help me to take ownership of my own feelings and respond appropriately. May You be glorified through the decisions I make today. -Amen.