On the flip side, there are parts of my personality that aren't so pretty. An exaggerated sense of time urgency, competitiveness and becoming easily irritated are things I struggle with. When things don't go according to my plan, I get frustrated. It's amazing how these are magnified when living with another person who doesn't always share these traits (thank the Lord). It's something I've been praying God would begin to change in me this year.
Be careful what you pray for. As I'm sure we've all experienced, God doesn't just give us patience, or love. But instead, gives us a chance to exercise patience and love. I've been slow in making the connection between these prayers and the circumstances God provides to give me a new attitude.
This week in church, we read 3 John. As I glanced through the intro, I read something that struck that nerve again. "It can be easy to join others in gossip, complaining or small acts of dishonesty..."
Rarely, if not ever, do I think of complaining as a fault, much less a sin. It really clicked with me how deep our attitudes run and how what is in my heart surfaces.
"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things from the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."
I think blaming a personality type is a cop out. I'm going to go out on a limb and say most of us have a tendency towards selfishness, frustration and jealousy rather than serving, peace and joy. As I move forward this year, I pray that my heart would be changed. I think the rest will fall into place.
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