galatians 5 - Thoughts About God

Ending the Blame Game

Devotionals — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:06:05 +0000

There’s something within our human nature that resists being controlled by others. Although we may outwardly submit to authority, submissiveness may not reach into our hearts. Inwardly, we could very well be acting like a child who is being disciplined by a parent: outwardly obeying by sitting for time out, but thinking, I’m standing up on the inside!

This is the attitude that leads to the deeds of the flesh described by Paul in today’s passage. Although we have no power to control what others do or say, we have the Holy Spirit, who can govern how we respond. Too often we try to blame our responses on the behavior of someone else. We justify our actions by saying, “But he made me so mad!” In reality, we chose to be angry—justifiably or not.

Whenever someone hurts or frustrates us, we can decide whether to react in a godly or worldly fashion. No matter how much blame we attempt to offload onto others, the Lord is not misled by our maneuvering. He looks at the heart. Each of us is accountable to Him for both our attitudes and responses.

We may think the blame game makes us look better, but God is not fooled. Followers of Christ are called to sow peace and bear the spiritual fruit of love, joy, and kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). If we are clinging to blame, all that is growing are the emotional “weeds” separating us from God. The responses He desires are forgiveness when we are hurt and repentance when we have sinned against another person.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission

https://www.intouch.org/

FURTHER READING

Wrongfully Convicted – by Thomas Pujol

The Blame Game’s Source – by Karen Woodard

The Blame Game – by Christa Hardin

The post Ending the Blame Game appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Nowhere to Go But Up

Thoughts_About_God — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 08:03:00 +0000

“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.” (Galatians 5:22-23, emphasis mine)

One of the most common questions of the Christian life is this: how do I know God’s will for my life? It’s a very important question. As Christ-followers we want to be obedient. We know that God has a plan for each of us and we know that His plan is for our good. So why doesn’t God just write out His plan so we can dive in? And what are we supposed to do until He reveals His plan?

It can be easy to slip into a never-ending holding pattern thinking, “I’ll just stay right here until I get a very clear direction from God. Preferably in writing. In triplicate if possible.” When we stand still, at least when I stand still, it’s often out of fear more than piety. (Or if I’m being really honest, I stand still because I’ve heard something I don’t like the sound of so what I’m really doing is waiting to hear God say something else.) But time and again in the Bible we see God telling people to start moving and His plan is revealed along the way. When God calls Abram in Genesis 12 He says, “go to the land that I will show you.” He doesn’t tell him his destination until later.

So how do we start walking? The other night at small group we were talking about this very topic and our leader told us that the when they launch the space shuttle the navigation system doesn’t kick in until it leaves Earth’s atmosphere. Why? Because there’s nowhere to go but up. Until the space shuttle enters orbit they don’t need to direct it because there is only one way it can go.

It’s the same for us. If we do the basic things God has asked us to do, we can be sure we’re headed in a good direction. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the spirit and then ends with this phrase, “against such things there is no law.” If you are actively pursuing love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and asking God to develop these things in your life, you can’t go wrong. You will be headed in the right direction. As you are walking God will continue to reveal His plans for you.

In that same small group meeting our leader quoted another pastor who said that “God uses what’s in your hands to get to what’s in your heart.” So if you are wondering what God’s will for your life is, look at what you have in your hands. Are you an excellent financial planner? Do you love horses? Are you really good at making people feel welcome? Do you have a great voice? Take the things that are in your hands and look for a way to use them for God.

God created each of us specifically for the good works he planned in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Ask God to show you how to use what you have. Pursue the fruit of the spirit in your life and you can rest assured that you are pursuing God’s will for your life. Walk forward in confidence, abiding in prayer. There’s nowhere to go but up.

Father, Give me the courage to start walking. Remind me that You will come with me and that You know the way, even when I can’t see it. Amen.

What holds you back when God tells you to start walking? Have there been times when you stepped out in faith? What happened?

By Claire Colvin
Used by Permission

Be Patient

Thoughts_About_God — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:03:29 +0000

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” Galatians 5:22

We were waiting for the traffic light to turn green. A car beside us (going the opposite direction) had her left turn signal light on, waiting to cross our lane. The woman in the car behind her was not impressed. Impatiently, she sat on her horn, then got out of her car and gave the driver a vicious tongue-lashing. She could have easily passed on the other side but chose to vent her hostilities instead.

While we watched this display of uncontrolled anger, we realized with surprise that we knew the woman! I am sure she would have felt terribly embarrassed had she known we witnessed her tirade.

But don’t we all go through those moments of impatience, if not verbally, then in our thoughts? The Holy Spirit reminded me of that just yesterday, I was impatient with a new waitress at a coffee shop. I had to repeat my order several times before she got it straight and although I didn’t say anything to her, my impatience showed.

When the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives, He will produce patience.

Lord Jesus, thank You for providing your Holy Spirit who produces patience in us. Please be in control of Your children’s lives. We want to reflect You and not our impatience. Amen

by Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

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