Attack!

Last night was our family night. We gather every Sunday evening as a family and have dinner, play games, watch a movie, catch up.  Our adult children come, the dogs come; it's very nice.  Often, we seem to have pizza, because cooking is my challenge, but sometimes we go beyond the pizza box and I cook.  Last night, I made spaghetti, green beans, and garlic bread.  My spaghetti sauce turned out perfect; it was very good indeed.  And, it was easy, I like that.
The game we played last night was Uno Attack. We sat around our dining room table with uno cards and the draw pile was stacked in this little gadget that one can press when it's their turn to draw.  Sometimes the gadget does nothing, other times it spits uno cards out of its mouth at the person taking the turn.  One to five cards, depending on it's "mood".  I was attacked by this gadget spitting out several cards at a time, on more than one occasion.  Needless to say, I did not win the game! It was fun, and unpredictable.
How many times have I gone into "attack mode" and spit venom out of my mouth? Poisonous words that impact the people around me in a negative way, rather than a Godly, positive way.  How many times have I felt that attack directed my way? These are the questions I have to ask myself, as I seek truth and love to be evident in my life. How often have I been unpredictable, ready to pounce at any given moment, for ungodly purposes?
Today I read Galatians 6. In this chapter it is very clear that I reap what I sow. "The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others-ignoring God-harvests a crop of weeds." ouch, those are powerful words, and I must take a close look at them.  My life has often been riddled with selfishness. Now, as I seek to run from the attack of self, and seek His will and purpose in my life, I must constantly ask Him to lead me. The chapter advises me to not be fatigued doing good! He says that by doing good, I will see a harvest, a good crop, if I don't give up. He encourages me to work for the benefit of ALL,  not me! And, tells me to start with the community of people closest to me, those in His faith.
Today, I am challenged by these words.  Today, my prayer is to look and focus on Jesus, and Him alone, so I can work for the benefit of others. So I can see beyond myself and into the hearts of others, and have love, compassion, and strength.
Say That Again, Jesus. Lift me into Your presence, and keep me from being in attack mode.  Make me predictable in You, and You alone.