I like getting bargains in our local charity shop and had a look round recently as they had put a lot of Christmas stuff out. One of the items I bought was a little bag containing four wooden letters which stand up individually to spell the word LOVE. Or so I thought!
At home, I got the letters out and put up the L and the O. As I looked at the two remaining letters, I couldn’t work out why I had N and E left and no V! I thought, how silly, did they not realise it had the wrong letter in it? I can’t put these letters up spelling “LONE”!! It must have taken me a full minute to realise they were supposed to spell NOEL!
I did have a chuckle at myself but it got me thinking. I had made an assumption about what was in the bag. I then assumed it was someone else’s fault that my expectations were not met. But however you look at it, it was all in MY mind and nothing to do with anyone else!
We often think we know what’s going on, what people are thinking, why they behave a certain way or say what they do and that nothing is ever our fault or responsibility. But it’s our PRIDE that puts us and our feelings at the top of all other considerations and makes us assume we must always be right. We need to change our way of thinking – then we might be more often patient, kind and loving and less often cross, upset or disappointed!
Romans 12:2-3 NIV
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The Finished Work 