“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” Proverbs 14:29 NIV
It is his great desire when taking a walk — getting to the end of our neighborhood and crossing the street to the park. Lately, Famous has developed a habit of pausing when we get to that point in our walks, just waiting to see if I will give the signal to continue. If I do not proceed and turn to retrace our steps too quickly, he might even dig in his feet and resist as if asking me, “Have you forgotten the wonderful time we had over there yesterday?”
But if I do decide we have time to visit the park, we have another problem: we have to cross a busy street. Knowing his eagerness is no match for heavy traffic, I ask him to sit at the curb while we wait for a break from cars in both directions. He is expected to patiently wait for my command indicating it is safe for us to cross together. Were he not on leash and on command, I am certain he would have made a tragic encounter with one of the vehicles a long time ago.
We understand the consequences of a quick temper. It leads to back-stepping and trying to put a spin on our words and actions to make it seem we were mis-quoted or misunderstood. But if are impatient, we show the world we think we know better than God, or even worse, we demonstrate our disbelief in God. We elect ourselves as the authority able to determine our own destinies and unable to hear God’s voice.
Dear Lord, teach me to be centered in Your will so that my decisions will not lead to folly.
ourdailydogdotcom 