SHORT FUSES
27th Mar 2013
Proverbs 12:16 in the Message says, “Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.”
I used to be a fool with an exceedingly short fuse! I could make all manner of excuses, “It was my upbringing!” “It’s just my personality.” “The circumstances just made me do it.” etc. etc - but I just exploded regularly.
At the same time, I loved Jesus, was born again, wanted to please Him and regularly asked for help. After my fuse was ignited and the ‘incident’ was over, I would quickly ask forgiveness from the Lord and the persons involved. However, I was left with feelings of guilt and condemnation on which the enemy always capitalised. I would try harder, pray for more self control, beat myself up, then gradually I would ‘feel’ forgiven and restored until the next time!
Two things helped to stop this foolish behaviour:
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A series of questions put to me by a friend after one of these explosive incidents: Have you confessed your sin to God? Did He forgive you? Who is accusing you? Have you forgiven yourself? Do you see yourself as forgiven or still black and unworthy? (Watch my new YouTube Video - Short Fuses on website - for the full story!)
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A statement: You don’t need to pray for more self control but for more of the Holy Spirit to fill you and display His fruit in ‘self control’
Condemnation sought to cut off my connection to God, and self effort and more failure enforced the pattern of behaviour. I had to learn that my help comes from God, not self effort. When I live in connection with Father God and draw on His resources, I acknowledge that Jesus, who is wisdom lives in me, and the more I allow Him to take over, the more His nature will be on display, and then foolishness will be a thing of the past.
Without God we are all fools and foolish. With Jesus living His life within us we can experience His wonderful wisdom worked out in all the circumstances of life.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
