2 Samuel 6:16  As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

2 Samuel 6:23  And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

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Attitudes have a way of shaping words and actions. No matter how we try, we can never really take back words once we have spoken them. No matter how we apologize, some behaviors linger in memory forever. 

Carefully select your attitude. Guard your heart. Protect your mind. Place a lock on your lips. Demonstrate self-control. 

Emotionally intelligent individuals do not lose their cool. 

Emotionally intelligent individuals select their responses. 

Emotionally intelligent individuals express the richness and experience the rewards of Ephesians 4:29-32:

• It’s never too early to shut up.
• It’s always time to build up.
• Bitterness, rage, and anger grieve God’s heart.
• Malicious actions and mean retorts damage relationships.
• Kindness and compassion heal relationships.
• Forgiveness and reconciliation restore relationships.
• Forgive as much in one another as Jesus has forgiven you.

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I will become increasingly more emotionally intelligent.

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Our Father, most of my trips, stumbles, and falls are my own fault. I make most of my own messes. Empower me to carefully select my attitude, to guard my heart, to protect my mind, to place a lock on my lips. Empower me to demonstrate self-control. Fill my mind with your thoughts and my mouth with your words. Empower me to edify and encourage, to become ever more kind and compassionate, and to live with a settled bent toward forgiveness. Amen.