Feeding the Flesh

I did some major housecleaning yesterday. I vacuumed and put carpet cleaner down and vacuumed again. I mopped the floor, but ran out of one floor cleaner and had to switch to another one. The second floor cleaner was called Fabuloso – isn’t that a great name – I think I will use it all the time. All the while, I was doing laundry and of course the dishes. By the time Toby came home, I think I had lost a few brain cells from all the chemical smells. He took me out to eat at the Chuckwagon to get me out of the house and reward my good behavior. Fabuloso!

Speaking of good behavior:
One of the things about being a Christian is that you are to put off your old, bad ways and put on God’s good ways. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Anger is one of those old bad ways that should be put off. Of course, everyone gets angry now and then, but it is how you react in your anger that is important. Last night, I became angry and wanted to take someone apart verbally (physically would have been good too). From my past life, I know I could do it – Let them have it, dot their eyes, put them down, throw down, etc, but I had a real check in my spirit that giving in to anger was not okay. Sure people do it all the time using the old "it is better to let it out than keep it in" as an excuse. That is your flesh talking. It does feel good to let it all out, but at what expense? No, controlling your mouth, your mind, and your physical actions is the better way, but it is not the easy way.

I’m really pretty easy going, but when I get mad it can be major. For the most part, I don’t get mad very often so anger is easily dealt with. Then out of the blue something happens and I snap. At this point I have a couple of choices – I can blast someone or I can get control. It is usually best for me to remain quiet. That does not mean my mind is not racing. That is the battle – dealing with all that goes through my mind – taking my thoughts captive. This can often be a long process for me. My prayer is that the process gets shorter.

Controlling anger is the better way even if it does not feel good at the time. Throwing a hissy fit seems good at the time and may feel great to my flesh, but in the long run it is not. Hurting someone’s feelings or letting them see the out-of-control-state-of-being is not easily forgotten or forgiven. Words are a powerful weapon. Giving in to Anger is kind of like those French fries at the Chuckwagon last night – I knew they were not on my diet and that I did not need to eat them, but I also knew they would taste so good. I ate them, and I felt bloated and fat the rest of the evening.

Fortunately, I did win the battle over my anger. I’m not saying that I’m going to let what caused my anger slide. No, I will deal with that little problem later, but at least I will do it with control, and it will be peaceful.