self-defense...

It's come to the surface lately... in this process of waiting... my own defensiveness... when challenged... by those who see from a different view... or blinded to truth... in a specific area...

The amazing love of the Father... who retains affection... while bearing the agony... seems beyond my ability...

My flesh... defends self... with anger... self-righteous indignation...

Compassion out the window... unable to recognize the loved one as lost... blind... bound...

As the word... defense... came to mind this morning... I saw myself using anger... as a defensive weapon... rather than the armor of God...

Self-defense... is not what God calls us to...

We are called to trust Him... depend on Him... and His armor... to defend us...

Looking over the pieces of armor... I see the piece that's the antithesis... of anger...

Stand firm then... with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Ephesians 5:14-15

Standing firmly at peace... in the gospel... my righteousness not my own... but Christ's... mine only by faith... in what He has done for me on the cross...

Today... I will be more diligent... about recognizing my tendency to defend self... with anger (under the guise of frustration)... I choose to depend on Him alone... as I wait...

The Lord is good to those who depend on him,

to those who search for him.

So it is good to wait quietly

for salvation from the Lord.

Lamentations 3:25-26 NLT

Father God... I depend on You to defend me... while I wait... for full deliverance... for myself... and loved ones...

Related fare...
joyful waiting...?
active duty...
active truth...
active righteousness...
active gospel...
active faith...
active salvation...
active Word...