I was listening to Christian radio while driving home from a town run. The radio host was talking about problems we encounter on a frequent basis. The speaker shared three practical tips for how to keep yourself from saying something you will regret. They made sense to me. I scrambled to find a scrap of paper to write them down after I got home. I’m sorry I don’t know who to attribute them to.
3 Tips That Can Change Your Life:
- Never reply when you are angry.
- Never make a promise when you are happy.
- Never make a decision when you are sad.
Implementation:
1) Never Reply When You’re Angry:
This makes a lot of sense. In the heat of the moment you can say things without an appropriate filter monitoring your words. You can hurl comments that are hurtful or unkind, that in the heat of the moment you feel justified in saying. But is it wise? Is it helpful? Is it hurtful or judgmental? Does it remedy the situation? Probably not.
KEY: You are either acting in the spirit or in the flesh. Choose to wait until you are centered in Christ, in the spirit, then reply accordingly.
2) Never Make a Promise When You’re Happy:
Unfortunately, people don’t always keep their promises. You are more likely to make an impulsive promise when you’re happy about something, like, maybe, the government stimulus check. Let’s go do something! Let’s buy something. (Mine went into my savings account to help out during the lean months, just saying.) When you’re happy you want to make others’ happy, but you need to think it through before you make a promise you might not be able to keep.
KEY: Plan rather than act on impulse. Wait before promising. Keep this in mind when you’re happy. Then you won’t make a promise you can’t keep, no matter how well-intentioned.
3) Never Make a Decision When You’re Sad:
When you’re sad, the glass is half empty and you’re not in the best frame of reference. Speaking for myself, I am more likely to think about quitting or giving up when I’m sad or not at my best. However, I recognize this in myself and deal with it first before making decisions. Take for instance, a bright, sunshiny day versus a foggy, dreary day; which kind of day cheers you up and makes you feel upbeat about life? Spring days, case in point. I do better writing on cheerful days than on cheerless days.
KEY: Put the decision off until a later time when you’re in a positive frame of mind. Then work at improving the way you feel. You might do an activity that lifts your spirits such as something you enjoy. Give yourself some time and space before making an important decision.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.“-Galatians 5:22,23 ESV
In Conclusion:
- Be wise.
- Be cautious.
- Be slow to speak.
- Be quick to listen.
- Be led by the Spirit
Self-control and Spirit-control work together in the child of God. I believe you make a mistake when you excuse your behaviors as just the way you are–and most of us ‘justify’ some of our behaviors, as I do. All of us are clay in the Potter’s hands. He’s making many sons and daughters for Glory. I think, as with anything, you get what you put into it. Most likely you won’t change unless you give whatever it is to God and let Him begin working on it with you. Something beautiful for God happens in the process.
*Photo by Brian Wangenheim, Unsplash
