document.open(); document.writeln(""); document.writeln("Controlling Our Reactions
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But the Holy"); document.writeln("Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience,"); document.writeln("kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is"); document.writeln("no law against these things!1

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Unfortunately,"); document.writeln("learning how to take full responsibility for my reactions was"); document.writeln("something I did not do well until I was older, which is why I have made it part"); document.writeln("of my parenting style. When you learn to manage your emotions and take"); document.writeln("responsibility for your actions AND reactions, it can improve your"); document.writeln("relationships. Having four children between the ages of two and fifteen, I find"); document.writeln("myself having many conversations about this. Anytime I hear, \'€œYou make me so"); document.writeln("mad\'€ or \'€œYou are annoying me\'€, that is usually my cue to step in. No matter how"); document.writeln("bothersome someone\'€™s behavior may be, we are in control of our emotions and"); document.writeln("reactions. I cannot control what the other person does all the time, but I can"); document.writeln("most certainly control how I react to it and what actions I take next. Using"); document.writeln("sentences like \'€œI feel upset\'€ instead of \'€œyou make me mad\'€, puts things in"); document.writeln("order and reminds us that we are responsible for ourselves, not others.

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Blaming others"); document.writeln("for how we feel is easy to do. There may be times when the other person is"); document.writeln("indeed at fault, but even then there are steps to take to right the wrong"); document.writeln("(Matthew 18:15-17). However, if we make blaming others a habit instead of"); document.writeln("taking responsibility for the part we play, it can be detrimental to our"); document.writeln("spiritual growth. The closer we get to Jesus, the more the fruits of the Holy"); document.writeln("Spirit will shine through us\'€¦ including patience, kindness, and self-control."); document.writeln("Spiritual maturity is achieved through us becoming more like Christ. Blaming"); document.writeln("others will only stunt our growth. Taking personal responsibility for our lives"); document.writeln("gives us the opportunity to learn from our mistakes, persevere, pray for"); document.writeln("others, and live in harmony with the will of God to produce the character of Jesus"); document.writeln("in our lives.

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Suggested"); document.writeln("prayer: Lord, show me the areas in my life where I need to take responsibility"); document.writeln("and stop blaming others. When I stand before you one day, I will not give an"); document.writeln("account of anyone but myself. Please help my actions and reactions imitate"); document.writeln("Jesus in every situation. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

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1.   "); document.writeln("Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT).

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Today\'€™s"); document.writeln("Encounter was written by: Crystal B.

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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.

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ACTS International

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