Week 5 | day thirty-one
You Become What You Behold
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27
This scripture can be approached both literally and figuratively, but for the sake of what we are talking about, I am approaching it figuratively. When I look at this and dig deep into that place in my heart with the Father, I think of the saying “You become what you behold.” What do I mean by this exactly? In 2 Corinthians 3:18, it says when we behold the glory of the Lord we are being transformed into His image, from glory to glory.
How does this correlate back to the original scripture I mentioned? When you are reflecting on your day, in your mind and to others, how does your reflection on something that made you angry come out? Do you tend to replay it in your mind? Do you share this offense with different people and gravitate to people who will affirm you when you want to be justified? Are there people you avoid because you don’t want to be held accountable? When you continue to stew in an offense and spew to others, avoiding the voice of reason, a bitter root starts to form in your heart. The more days and nights this cycle continues, or the more you BEHOLD this offense, the more it BECOMES a part of you and you slowly have given “opportunity to the devil.”
The opposite of this is true as well. When you spend time in His Word, prayer, worship, and get to receive wise counsel from Godly friends, who may not always affirm you, and invite Him in, the more you BEHOLD HIM and His Ways. The more you BECOME like Him. When you do these things and you don’t give way to anger in your life, you crucify your flesh and it leaves no room for bitterness to get a foothold in your life.
For Worship Wednesday I am reminded of the song Christ Be Magnified by Cody Carnes. In this song it says, “I won’t be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is true, if the cross brings transformation then I’ll be crucified with you.”
Today’s Prayer: Help me go to You first, Father in the places when anger is provoked in my heart. Teach me Your ways and give me a wise community to walk in relationship with that will continue to point me to You. Help me to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)
Today’s Challenge: Listen to Christ be Magnified by Cody Carnes on Beltway’s Spotify and as you do, spend time releasing anyone or any situation you have been holding contempt for in your heart. Forgive what needs to be forgiven, give the situation to Jesus and pray blessing over it. Ask the Father how He sees the situation and ask Him to heal your heart.
