RELATIONAL PROPERTY LINES

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

RELATIONAL PROPERTY LINES

** Why do we try to blame others for our own reactions? Post your

thoughts on the blog today: http://tmdevotionals.com/women/

You'd never think of going into your neighbor's yard and pulling up the

plants she chose to grow. Nor would you pop over and plant what you

thought might look better in her yard. We each have a property line

defining our area of responsibility.

It's the same in relationships. Within our property line are the things

we have complete control over... our own thoughts, words, reactions,

ideas, attitudes and emotions. Though others may try to tell us what to

think or how to feel, we have total responsibility for ourselves in

these areas. We choose our own reactions and attitudes even when the

actions and words of others toward us are less than desirable. "You made me

do it" or "you make me so mad" are poor excuses for the choices we make

ourselves.

In the same way those around us also have complete responsibility for

their own thoughts, words, reactions, ideas, attitudes and emotions. We

may try to change people by manipulation, demand or even threat, when

the truth is we only have influence.

Today, stop and think about your property lines in the relationships

around you. Take full responsibility for your own attitudes, words,

thoughts, emotions and reactions. Don't try to blame others. You are in

complete control in these areas.

God reminds us that what is in the heart comes out...

"For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45b )

If you discover you have some heart issues that need dealing with in

order to clean up the overflow in your life, find a trusted Christian

friend or counselor to pray and work it through with.

In the same way, know afresh that you can only influence those around

you in regard to what overflows out of their hearts. Remember that your

primary course of influence is prayer. If you see attitudes, words,

reactions and emotions in a loved one that are negative and potentially

destructive, above all else pray for that person and ask God to begin to

touch his/her life in a fresh way.

Father God,

Forgive me when I try to fix everyone else. Help me to allow You to

work in my attitudes, my reactions, my words and my emotions and thoughts.

Help me to influence those around me by my example of leaning on You.

Change me, Lord.

Help me to pray for those around me, allowing You to be their change

agent. Thank You for Your love and grace. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

About the Author

This devotional was written by Gail Rodgers. Read more about Gail:

http://www.tmdevotionals.com/women/authors/gail-rodgers/

Questions

1. Why do we try to blame others for our own reactions?

2. What does the Scripture verse (Luke 6:45b) tell us about ourselves?

3. How can you take responsibility today for your property lines?

[Guest jckduboise]

This deserves a standing "o"

And to add to it. Part of the discipline that our Father gives us is when we do blame others for the messes and mistakes we make in our own lives. People who are unable to find fault within themselves and are unable to eat a little humble pie at times, tend to be proud and arrogant, which happen to be personality traits that Jesus disliked immensly. And if He didn't like them we have to know they are bad for us, especially as Christians.

Something that helps and I would like to add to your prayer;

Lord please reveal to me the secret dark places in my heart that prevent me from coming to you dressed in a clean robe.

Amen

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

This deserves a standing "o"

And to add to it. Part of the discipline that our Father gives us is when we do blame others for the messes and mistakes we make in our own lives. People who are unable to find fault within themselves and are unable to eat a little humble pie at times, tend to be proud and arrogant, which happen to be personality traits that Jesus disliked immensly. And if He didn't like them we have to know they are bad for us, especially as Christians.

Something that helps and I would like to add to your prayer;

Lord please reveal to me the secret dark places in my heart that prevent me from coming to you dressed in a clean robe.

Amen

You're wonderful Jackie!

I love your heart! Simply wonderful!

I love your prayers, too. I love also along that line of thought, "create in me a clean heart.. oh Lord"...

Thanks for you post here to me on this subject.

Ya gotta wonder, I mean a game got like 5000 hits and I got ummm what 15? haha

nah, people don't wanna get a clean heart anywhere near enough in general.

Love in Chris

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

Luk 6:45 A good18 man444 out1537 of the3588 good18 treasure2344 of his848 heart2588 bringeth forth4393 that which is good;18 and2532 an evil4190 man444 out1537 of the3588 evil4190 treasure2344 of his848 heart2588 bringeth forth4393 that which is evil:4190 for1063 of1537 the3588 abundance4051 of the3588 heart2588 his846 mouth4750 speaketh.2980

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~LUKE 6:45~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~