Daily D – Matthew 5:21-22

by | Jul 15, 2022 | Daily D | 0 comments

David G Bowman Logo

Matthew 5:21, 22  “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (NIV)

One of the most important lessons in life is knowing when to stop. This is true for sermonizers and drama queens. This is true for online shoppers and offline vacationers. 

Without the emotional muscle to stop ourselves, we tend to overindulge in arguments and desserts, donuts and angry outbursts. 

A simple, powerful tool employed against anger and other emotional reactions has proven itself helpful to many. How simple? As simple as a 3 x 5 index card. Take one of these cards and write on it in large block letters one of the most powerful four-letter words of all, STOP.

Place that card in your shirt pocket or somewhere else you can easily retrieve it. Place it on the dashboard of your car if you have a tendency to get ticked off at certain drivers. If you do not get irritated at certain drivers, STOP being such a pansy. 

I probably should have stopped before writing the last sentence. Please forgive me. We will call it “an illustration.” How’s that? 

The powerful idea of this simple tool is found in how it arrests our attention and refocuses our thought processes. This interruption to our stream of consciousness provides a way of escape from the unhealthy, unwholesome, unkind responses that turn simple arguments into emotional dramas. 

I learned to use this tool thirty years ago. Jesus taught something like it two thousand years ago. King Solomon was right. There is nothing new under the sun. 

How does anger most affect you? Are you a shouter or a seether? Are you a puncher or an isolationist? Whatever your chronic reactionary style, STOP it. STOP it before you say something you will regret now and forever. STOP it before you create emotional distance or endless separation. STOP it before it becomes something dangerous, deadly even. 

If your index cards have lines on one side, flip it over to the blank back side and write STOP. On the lined side, write these two verses. Let them remind you of how much you lose when you do not STOP in time. 

How easy is this? Maybe not easy at all, but it might just change your life.

I will STOP one moment too soon rather than one moment too late.

 
 
 
 
 

Our Father, please guard my mind and my mouth. Empower me to STOP before I take one more step down a path leading toward anger, hurt, or dissolution. Amen. 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

          Church Unique Logo          Auxano Logo

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Numbers 16:1-3

Numbers 16:1-3 One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the Lord, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the Lord’s people?”

Daily D – Numbers 14:24

Numbers 14:24 “But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.”

Daily D – Psalm 57:7-8

Psalm 57:7, 8
“My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.”

Daily D – Numbers 9:17-18

Numbers 9:17, 18 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle.

Daily D – Psalm 56:3

Psalm 56:3
“But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.”