"Put Off...Put On"

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." Eph. 4:22

A lesson God is teaching me in my life right now is to not be so easily provoked. I didn't realize this until I heard both messages in church and Sunday School this past week. I am easily irritated; who knew??! ;) A verse that I was shown regarding this is 1 Cor. 13:5 which says,

"...does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrong doings;"

I am officially the queen of holding grudges and record keeping! I know I will never be perfect, but I want to try to be more Christ-like every day. That means I have to throw away my lists and "records" of all that any one has ever done to upset me or that I thought was wrong. It's a hard lesson to learn, but I'm definitely willing to keep at it. Another verse which was an encouragement to me in this was Proverbs 19:11 -

"A person's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense."

As much as it pains God when we sin, He is still a loving and forgiving Father. Why shouldn't I be willing to forgive and overlook someone's mistake? Lord, help me to be more like Jesus everyday!

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof." Romans 13:14