Get rid of it

"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

Have you noticed that there are a lot of angry people in this world today? And runners are certainly not exempt from the emotion. On January 7, the Albuquerque Journal reported: Several staff members at Kennedy Middle School were injured Tuesday when they tried to stop a renegade jogger, who happened to have a military warrant for his arrest, running on the track during lunch. When an eighth-grade science teacher tried to stop him, Bradley Pfender, 37, allegedly shoved him to the ground and flipped him off before continuing on his run. It took the principal tackling him and a group of teachers helping to hold him down to stop him. Like most schools, only employees and students may be on the premises during school hours unless signing in. The teachers were merely trying to enforce that rule by politely asking Pfender to leave. This guy was angry! http://www.abqjournal.com/522645/news/wanted-man-assaults-teachers-principal-during-jog-on-schools-track-police-say.html

While some anger is justified (Matthew 21:12), most times it is not. The bible is very clear that only fools lose their temper. Ecclesiastes 7:9 gives us this warning, "Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool." and Proverbs 29:11 says, "A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back." Merriam-Webster defines a fool as a person who lacks good sense or judgment while the biblical definition would add “someone who disregards God’s Word.” Rather than being fools, we should instead be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19). Not only will our fury make us look foolish, we could stand to lose our witness and turn others away from Christ.

We can't overcome anger on our own though. We can only overcome this emotion through God's strength, by being renewed in the spirit of our minds and putting on our new selves. In other words, to avoid being a fool, we need to die to self daily, '"knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin." Romans 6:6. Isn't a smile nicer to wear anyway?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessings you have given us. You are so awesome to provide us with peace and happiness in circumstances that might cause us to be angry. May we not follow the path of this world by reacting with rage but rather love others as you have loved us regardless of the situation. For your loving kindness every day, we praise you. In your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

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Water Grave - Imperials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPqzuCQmS9o

I'm goin' down to the river.
And I'm gonna be buried alive.
I want to show my Heavenly Father,
The man I use to be has finally died.