Monday, September 14, 2015

Button Pushers

I was having a talk with my son this morning about what happens when buttons get pushed. He's having a little trouble making the right choice in certain situations, and I was trying to explain to him the importance of having a plan when a particular button gets pushed.

"The right choice doesn't happen by accident," I told him. "You need to know in advance what you are going to do if your buttons get pushed."

Suffice it to say that he isn't interested in my advice. But it got me thinking.

We tend to be people of reaction. Right choices don't happen by accident; we go into default mode, whatever that is for us, and end up rationalizing that we can't help the way we are.

Not true.

  • "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love, and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7
  • "But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23
  • "Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:1
We have it in us to live differently. We don't need to be hostage to our feelings and gut reactions, because while those may be what comes naturally, it doesn't always mean it's right. 

Someone today will push your buttons. Make your plan now so when the time comes, your response is driven by the Spirit, not the flesh. You can't always avoid your triggers, but you do have the tools to deal with them.