He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. – Proverbs 25:28 KJV
I believe this verse illustrates a clever way the Enemy gets through to us, and influences us. He tries to get us to lose our spirit, our patience, our self-control.
The walls around our hearts fall – giving him the perfect foothold to come right on over and create more havoc as he tries to influence our actions.
And I know, in the midst of child-raising, marriage, and home-management, that there are daily, sometimes hourly, opportunities for me to:
1) seek help from the Lord to choose a right spirit or 2) lose it.
Sometimes, it feels like I don’t have a choice – like I just can’t control it.
Not true, of course.
A few months ago, my Boy Two was in need of some new shoes. Because of some foot/ ankle issues, he needed to get properly fitted for a supportive pair. I braved the errand with all three boys.
Long story very short: he lost it in the store, shouting, and throwing a huge tantrum (and shoes) in the process. I had finally come to the place where this no longer embarassed me, but was still emotionally draining and distressing. Trying to help him get calm, I knelt down to his eye level, and spoke to him firmly but quietly. A nearby mom, watching the scene, remarked, “You have a world of patience.”
I looked at her, weary, and said, “It’s only because I’m in public.”
On the way home, God spoke to me – clearly.
Hey, Rhonda – if you can keep a good spirit in public at the shoe store, you can do it in private at home with your children.
Not a rebuke. Just a gentle admonishment that I was in complete control of my actions, and I needed to remember this – regardless of where I was.
Here’s to keeping your walls from crumbling down.
