"Making it Real"

 "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." (Ecclesiastes 7:9 KJV)

  "He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prize possession. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." (James 1:18-21 NLT)

 This might seem like we have turned the page, moving on to a different subject; but when it comes to us knowing what it means to be a child of God, this could be one big obstacle that keeps knocking us down. At least I know it is for me! If there is one thing that makes me stubble and feel as if I have been defeated by my old nature, it is the way I can be so quick to get angry.

 I know how to control this; it is something that requires focusing on the word of God, letting that be the thing that fills you, not all of other garbage we sometimes put into our hearts and minds. Simply put, if you put that filth and evil in, it is bound to come out, and not in the way you would like! 

 We need to wash ourselves in the word of God! The more we put the word in, the less we are likely to feel defeated and the more we will start cleaning out our lives. This is something we must understand, that if we don't make every effort to do it right, we will not feel right about doing what we do, because it is not consistent. I need structure, as do most of you! 

 If we are fully committed to the Lord, there is the real structure we need more than anything else; even when everything around us is falling apart, that Structure will remain...

""So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, 'Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."" (Matthew 22:10-14 NLT)