That’s How God Made Dogs - The Joy of Prudent Thinking

When one dog starts barking in the neighborhood, then another dog begins to bark, then another dog starts barking. That’s how God made dogs.

God didn't create us to be like this. Nevertheless, we often believe like dogs, don't we? Somebody barks at us, and we bark back, as though we have no control over the matter. There are basically two types of people: reactive and proactive. God wants us to be proactive, not reactive to things happening around you. You decide that no matter what's going on around you, you are not going to allow it to change what is going on inside you. 

You tell yourself :

- I keep my thoughts filled with God’s promises for me.

- Despite how others treat me I am going to treat them with respect and kindness.

When we overreact to what other people do, we are living outside of what God wants for us. The truth is that no one can make you mad without your permission. In other words, it is not what someone else does that triggers your negative response. Rather, it is how you interpret what others say or do that leashes your clear emotions.

Today, pray and ask God for self control to respond to difficult people and situations in a way that glorifies him.