my spiritual condition, like a 4 year old. MAY IT NEVER BE!

Nthing has reminded me more about spiritual condition than my boys. i have been so challenged as we raise these boys in the knowledge of the Lord. I know that they are sinners born into a sinful world, but i didn't realize how much they would remind me of me and my own disobedience and selfishness. Yesterday was just one of those days where we were constantly being tested and tried. I found myself responding abruptly and in anger. Unfortunately i raised my voice and threatened more times than i can even count, without instruction and without love.

I am always trying to look at my children's behavior through biblical eyes, knowing that their actions and reactions come directly from the heart. My goal is not to just change behavior for the sake of behavior but to help them to see their need for a changed heart and ultimately a need for Jesus.

So i started to read scripture this morning with the hopes i was going to make this day better for me! That i would read something that would help me deal with Elijah and Cooper in a godly way. And this is what the Lord said in HIS Word to me.

Luke 6:45

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart and the evil man brings evil out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

YIKES! The heart is the control center of life which is reflected in my mouth! My actions, my reactions, my words, how i deal with my husband and my children are all a reflection of what my heart is full of. I hate it when i think of the ugliness that was in my heart yesterday. i wanted my day to be all about me and it did not work out that way and i was mad. What is so ironic is that this is the exact behavior i see in my 4 yr. old and try to correct so often.

Fill my heart up Lord with TRUTH and with good things so that i can demonstrate it to my children.