Praise Him for no condemnation.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

I'm praying 1 Corinthians 13 today...the "love is patient, love is kind...." part. Yesterday was a frustrating day. Mainly because I wasn't living out these verses. My children were extra hyped up...don't know why, and by the time we got to the end of the evening, I had reached my limits. Among other things, Emerson bit Owen on the foot while we were waiting in line to pick up Avery. He got a spanking, which he deserved, but still makes me feel awful. Then Avery couldn't find her AWANA bag. Emerson said, "There it is Avery," and picked it up to hand it to her. It was upside down and everything fell out, so Avery had a melt-down right there in the middle of the walkway. By the time we got to the car there was smoke coming out of my ears. Emerson asked me, "Mommy are you mad?" I proceeded to list all of the reasons why I was, indeed, mad. Then we got home and instead of lovingly asking Emerson to stop being a frog and just walk up the stairs so we could get ready for bed, I snapped, "Emerson, stop that and get upstairs NOW." Then I quickly got everyone in bed and went downstairs to wallow.

Before I could do that, I realized my brother had called, and so I called him back. As soon as he asked me how I was, I burst into tears. I told him how I felt like a failure, because I wasn't showing my kids Christ's love. He reminded me that disciplining them is love, and he's right, but I know that I should have been more gentle and "long-suffering" when I dealt with them. I'm grateful for my brother's listening ear and encouragement. After talking to him, God gave me this verse as a reminder. (It's not the first time either, but usually I hear it in my mother's voice.)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

I thought about this. Was God bringing this verse to mind because I was being too hard on myself, or was there more to it? I decided to reread this section of scripture today and I've included it here: (from Romans 8)

¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

WOW...okay, so I could take a lot of things away from this, but mostly I realized that because I KNOW that I am a child of God, lead by the Spirit, then I need to daily (even hourly) release my fleshly thoughts, actions, etc. When I allow the flesh (my human nature) to drive my life, then I am not truly living the life that I now have in Jesus Christ, which basically isn't "living" at all! Next time I feel overwhelmed with anger, irritation, impatience, whatever the case may be, I'm going to cry out to God, "Abba, Father," that he might indwell me with the ability to live "by the Spirit" and not "of the flesh." I will remember that, "the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." I want that, don't you!?