Choosing Joy! {Even in the 'Unguarded' moments}

Unguarded- Speaking carelessly without thinking about what you are saying. Very direct and honest especially when you should be cautious. Not protected or watched over. Vulnerable to attack, unprotected. Free from guile or wariness. Direct, incautious. 

Proverbs 15:1 

"A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Ladies, we all have those days where we are stuck in a tangled web & we are caught off-guard in that one moment of attack.

Someone can say something just slightly negative 

(Terribly rude in our minds) 

& our 1st instinct is to snap back at them.

I like to think of this situation kinda like a snapping turtle.

Like the Zoo-keeper always says, before entering into the 

Snapping Turtles exhibit: 

She doesn't snap, unless provoked 

or caught off guard,

but when she is... 

Then watch out!!! 

Cause here she goes! 

Also please keep your fingers/food to yourselves. Don't want your little hands to be her lunch. Hah! 

Those are the moments where the Devil plots out a away to catch you off-guard & provoke your spirit man. 

One second you will be all cool, 

calm, & collected.

Then the next, the Devil's got you cornered & you begin to reply in a not very graceful manner at all. 

We then begin to get sucked into this whirlpool of bitterness & 

un-forgiveness. As we are struggling to keep swimming against the current & are trying to choose Joy & see the positive in this negative situation,

the devil just continues 

to keep pulling down on us, 

until our heads go under 

& we drown into an off-guarded moment. 

In these moments it's very easy, 

(speaking even for myself) 

To say things we will later regret.

 

When we show bitterness or 

un-forgiveness towards someone, 

Our hearts then lose the special protection 

covering that God has placed over them

& we then take every slight negative comment,

as huge ones. 

 

 Because our hearts are not being protected

we instantly feel provoked, 

& feel the need, to reply in 

not-so-graceful manners to prove a point. 

Colossians 4:6 says 

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, 

that ye may know how ye ought 

to answer every man.

That is probably the absolute hardest scripture

right there to live by. 

Speaking in every situation with grace & a calm tone... 

Definitely something, we ALL need to be working on!   

My mom always reminds my sisters

& I of this, often daily: 

"Are my words bringing peace to this situation or are they just fuelling a fire of anger??" 

Before you speak it, take a look at what you are about to say

& ask yourself this quick question: 

"Is this glorifying to God, is this speaking with a tone of grace, & is this bringing joy into that person's life??" 

If not, then don't say it. 

(Plain & Simple.) 

As I began to write this post, 

I started to examine my own heart, 

God kinda gave me this little review film of the things that I have said verbally or even online to people in the past 

& I began to weep. 

I felt so ashamed, dirty even. 

In that moment of shame, 

bitterness, & un-forgiveness...

I kneeled before God at 1:54am 

& I rededicated my 'mouth' to the Lord.

 

With tears rolling down my cheeks I said:

"God whatever flows from my mouth, 

let it be glorifying to your name & let it always be with Grace. God help me to always choose Joy even in the 'unguarded' moments & Thank you for always loving me,

even with my many mistakes." 

I don't know about you, but 

Today I will choose JOY!! :) 

Until next time, 

~Kerrington