It disappeared. I had it, then I didn't.
I dropped Betty off at work then ran a few errands. I went to Home Depot and remember checking my phone when I get back in the car. I drove over to Staples and purchased a notebook. Then I went to Dunkin Donuts and ordered a black coffee in a latte cup. (I do not like coffee in a styrofoam cup.) On my drive to church, I reached over to pick up my phone and, AHHHH! Where is it? I pulled over and looked on top of my car. Nope. I retraced my steps back up the road I had just driven to see if it was in the middle of the road. Nope. I went into Staples and asked if someone had turned in an iPhone. Nope. I went to Dunkin Donuts to see if I had left it there. Nope. I drove around the parking lot looking for an iPhone in the middle of the lot. Nope.
All the while I am thinking. "Great, there goes a thousand dollars." "How am I going to explain this to my wife?" "How long can I live without an iPhone?" "Would anyone notice if I shut it off?" But, the true was, I wasn't panicking. I wasn't happy, but I wasn't panicking. I decided to head back to where my wife works, fire up my laptop and use the "find my phone" feature to locate the thing. (I was convinced it was well on its way in the opposite direction of my current location.) Stopping at a red light, I had a thought. I leaned over the center console and looked between the passenger seat and the console. There it was!!! I did breathe a sigh of relief.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God has been working on my ability to keep my emotions in check. That isn't to say that I am a hand grenade looking for a place to explode all the time. But the Holy Spirit has been asking for the space to help me before I react to something. Can you do it?
#1 - Accept the way God created you. You will always feel before you think. Every thought you have goes through the emotional centers of your brain before they reach the reasoning centers.
#2 - Remember that God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of self-control. It's the last one that you working on here.
#3 - Your goal is to bring your emotions and your thoughts into line with Gods will. That isn't always easy. But if you practice, it will get easier.
#4 - Emotions are not a bad thing. Sometimes though, they are not the best thing. Let the Holy Spirit help you.
#5 - Pray for wisdom. This is the key to getting your emotions under control. Allow God to teach you wisdom.
PRAY: Dear Jesus, I need your wisdom in my life today. AMEN
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