Talk to me, Abba.

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Honestly, I sometimes find myself just incensed at the words of others. I can't believe that people say and do the things they do. I wonder at how people can be so outright rude to others. I got tired of being annoyed at people. I got tired of other people being annoyed at people. I didn't want to be in agreement with the negativity around me anymore. I found myself repeating things other people were angry about. The irony was that I did not even care about those things. It was just what came out when conversation arose. Misery loves company and what not. It damages the state of our hearts. It causes us to be in agreement with the devil. 

We all enjoy sharing the hurtful things others say and do to us. The outrage over the thing makes us feel valuable. Christ hasn't called us to outrage. He hasn't called us to gossip. He has called us to grace. As I would find myself sticking my foot in my own mouth, I would feel that gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit that reminds me that I do it too. I say ignorant things. I say hurtful things. I laugh when laughter isn't called for. I hope that you would have grace for me. Why, then, should we ever refuse it to anyone else?

 Jesus, I want to speak with grace.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Psalm 103:8

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