Day 6

Love is not Irritable

Proverbs 16:32
Better a patient man than a warrior,a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

"Love is hard to offend and quick to forgive. How easily do you get irritated and offended?... If you are walking under the influence of love, you will be a joy, not a jerk. Ask yourself, "Am I a calming breeze, or a storm waiting to happen?

Why do people become irritable? There are at least two key reasons that contribute to it:
Stress: Stress weighs you down, drains your energy, weakens your health, and invites you to be cranky. It can be brought on by relational causes: arguing, division, and bitterness. There are excessive causes: overworking, overplaying, and overspending. And there are deficiencies: not getting enough rest, nutrition, or exercise. Oftentimes we inflict these daggers on ourselves, and this sets us up to be irritable....
The Bible can help you avoid unhealthy stress. It teaches you to let love guide your relationships so you aren't caught up in unnecessary arguments (Colossians 3:12-14) and to pray through your anxieties instead of tackling them on your own (Philippians 4:6-7).
Selfishness: When you're irritable, the heart of the problem is primarily a problem of the heart. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). Some people are like lemons: when life squeezes them, they pour out a sour response. Some are more like peaches: when the pressure is on, the result is still sweet.
Being easily angered is an indicator that a hidden area of selfishness or insecurity is present where love is supposed to rule." - Love Dare

Dare
Make a list of the things that anger or irritate you. Pray for God to help you learn how to handle these situations. Resolve to not react out of anger or frustration the next time one of these situations comes up.