One of the things that frustrate me most is when I lose something! I
usually get so busy that I don’t remember exactly where I put an item
and then I have to stop and take time out to retrace my steps and find
the spot where it was I misplaced the particular object to begin with!
Sometimes that retracing of my steps takes longer than I would like as
the hunt hinders me from moving forward with my daily activities. Then
I am doubly frustrated - first from losing the object initially, and secondly
from having to waste the time in going backward to find it!
Today, I want to talk about the effects of losing something valuable in
our homes; namely our tempers! When are you most likely to lose your temper?
What is it that brings you to that place to begin with? It is important
to take the time to retrace our steps and go back to the spot where we
lost our tempers and find out what caused us to “misplace” them initially.
This way, we can continue to move in a forward direction and not have
to waste so much time going backward.
First, what is a temper? And what is its rightful place? Temper as defined
in Webster's 1828 dictionary reads, disposition of mind. To lose your
temper is in reality, to lose your mind! A mind is certainly a valuable
object to us, amen? Have you lost your mind recently, dear lady? Can't
seem to find it anywhere? It's time to go back and find out where you
“lost it” to begin with so you can put it back where it belongs and leave
it there! Ask your husband or children where and when it was you last
lost your disposition of mind - I'll bet they will remember and be able
to take you right to the very scene of the crime! I can hear them now,
“Here it is mommy! Here's where you misplaced your mind, right next to
where I spilled my milk!” On the other hand, maybe your husband would
answer, “Why dear, don’t you remember you lost your mind over there by
the door where I came in late from work.”
Yes, it's always a backward journey to finding our tempers… Ladies, let's
keep track of them so we don't waste the time we should be growing forward!
Where does our disposition of mind belong in the first place? Let's ask
the Lord…
Isaiah 26:3A (KJV)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee....
The Bible says our minds belong on God! This is precisely where our tempers
belong too - with God and under His control! Today many believers happily
place themselves into a descriptive category relating to their type of
temperament, using such terms as melancholy, choleric, or sanguine etc.
People eagerly dive into self-discovery. We each seem to enjoy our private
little title yet make no attempts to come out from under it, claiming
that is just the way we are and always will be! But ladies, if you and
I are Holy Spirit controlled, nobody should be acquainted with our personal
temperament. It's time we dove into discovering the Spirit of God for
a change! When we do, those fleshly natures of ours will fade in the light
of being Spirit filled…
Matthew 10:20 (KJV)
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh
in you.
When we lose our tempers, we have come out from under the control of the
Holy Spirit and fallen under management of our own flesh, and it is usually
not a pretty sight! Nor should we make light of the situation by giving
our personal imbalances a special title. These are to be repented of and
forsaken! When we lose our minds, our tongues are soon to follow. In fact,
James has some insight for us in this area of losing our tempers, so let's
turn there and see what else scripture has to say....
James 1:18 (KJV)
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be
a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Ladies, the Bible says that God has regenerated us through His Word, the
Word of TRUTH! Truth sets us free from our sinful past and patterns that
we should be an example of the Word of truth! It should be making changes
in us clear enough for all to see…. How are you doing, dear lady? Since
the day of your salvation, has your temper been improving, or remaining
the same? As children of God, you and I should be misplacing our disposition
of mind less and less!
James 1:19 (KJV)
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to
speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness
of God.
Now pay close attention to this verse, for if you look closely, you'll
find within it the key to not losing your temper. The secret lies within
our ability to receive the Word of God! Ladies, truth cannot work in our
lives and bring about vital change if we do not receive it in the right
way! We must be teachable; for the Bible says above we must be swift to
hear. Incidentally, what is your reaction to the Word of God as it comes
to your ear? Do you have an inward argument with the truth? Do you refuse
to look at your sin as you should? Do you make excuses for your behavior;
are you inclined to give it a psychological label rather than a spiritual
one? James says be swift to hear what God has to say to you about your
temper!
How about the being "slow to speak" part of this verse? Hasty words are
certainly a potent fuel that fires up our tempers! What is your speech
like when your mind is stayed on God? Much better than when it isn't on
God, amen? I can say for myself, that when my mind doesn't stay on God,
neither do my words and by my own tongue I can swiftly reduce my behavior!
Thoughtless words can also cause our tongues to be the spoon that stirs
up the temper of another, our spouse perhaps, our sister in the Lord,
even our children. James wisely reminds us today that we need to be slow
to speak for this very reason! How much wiser are our words when our minds
are stayed on the Lord and His Word; how much kinder they are! When under
the control of the Holy Spirit the purpose for which we speak takes on
a purity that is not present when our tempers fly.
Next in line is, "slow to wrath". Hmmm, that's a toughie when you've misplaced
your mind! An acceleration toward anger takes place when your mind is
taken off of the Lord and placed on your circumstances, or the failures
of others - even your own! We get mad and even direct our wrath toward
God when things don't go our way, blaming Him for our problems. We are
guilty of arguing with the Lord inwardly by rejecting His Word and not
following it in obedience. James warns us of getting angry at scripture
simply because it reveals our sin to us. Do you get mad at your mirror
when you look in it just because you may discover a new blemish or wrinkle??
I hope that you don't grab it down off the wall and smash it to pieces
because it did what it was designed to do! Yes, God's Word is a mirror
that points out human transgression, therefore it is just as foolish for
us to be angry at God for exposing our sin as it would be were we mad
at our mirrors! Man’s wrath does not work the righteousness of God… Don't
rebel against God's Word for presenting the truth; it could cost you your
disposition of mind!
James 1:21 (KJV)
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and
receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Ladies, we're going to need to get some things out of the way in our hearts
in order to keep them prepared to receive the Word of God at all times.
Then patience can have its perfect work and keep us from losing our tempers
so easily! Character traits such as filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness
will need to be forsaken. Superfluity means superabundance, a greater
quantity than is wanted. This is what God says is the quantity of sin
in our hearts - what a mountain to move, amen? But praise the Lord our
God is in the mountain moving business! His Word is what clears the wicked
atmosphere of our hearts, which causes us to lose control. We must be
swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath in reply to the truth
if we would purify our hearts in preparation for victory!
*~*~~TEMPER~~*~*
When I have lost my temper, I have lost my reason too.
I'm never proud of anything, which angrily I do.
When I have talked in anger and my cheeks are flaming red,
I have always uttered something that I wish I had not said.
In anger I have never done a kindly deed or wise,
But many things for which I felt I should apologize.
In looking back across my life, and all I've lost or made,
I can't recall a single time when fury ever paid.
So I struggle to be patient, for I've reached a wiser age;
I do not want to do a thing or speak a word in rage.
I have learned by sad experience that when my temper flies
I never do a worthy deed, a decent deed or wise.
If you would take back your temper you must yield to the Word of God.
Do not be of a controversial spirit! It is foolish to receive God's Word
into an unprepared heart. Engrafted means to "implant that which is native
for the purpose of propagation". The Bible is foreign material to the
filthy and naughty soil of our hearts. Nevertheless, the Lord wants to
plant His Word within our hearts and have it take root and flourish, making
permanent changes in our tempers through trust in Him!
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because
he trusteth in thee.
Ladies, temper is such a valuable thing, it's a SHAME for us to lose it!
We should to know where it is at all times - in the care and protection
of the Holy Spirit of God! If you've been guilty of losing your temper,
why not take some time to retrace your steps and find where you misplaced
it, and put it back where it belongs – “STAYED ON THEE.” It’s the place
of perfect peace for the child of God!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
