Disrespect is Growing Exponentially!

In our day we are experiencing the disrespect of adult children and their spouses because they think they are superior to their parents allowing them the excuse them to emotionally and verbally abuse their parents, merely for thinking differently from them.

These arrogant and self-exalted adults withhold their children from the grandparents as well as teach the grandchildren to disrespect them through their own example. Those who are full of self-will and disregard for others become jealous if their children love anyone other than themselves. They have a strange idea that if their child loves someone else they cannot love the parents.

The Bible teaches that we can love everyone all at the same time. Those who think in selfish terms fear the loss of the love of their children because they do not possess love themselves.

Love toward everyone is the command of God in His Word. If we have love it will be a character matter that cannot be manipulated by those who do not love. If love is a part of our character we do not want to harm others even in the slightest way, we want all people we encounter to sense the love of Christ and we desire that everyone we meet hears the truth of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

"More is caught than taught." The generation that is trained to disrespect the elderly will themselves disrespect their elderly, it is what they will be familiar with all their lives. It makes no sense to think that grandchildren will show love and kindness to their own parents when they have been taught disrespect in general toward others they think do not measure up to themselves .

Isaiah 3:5

"5 The people will be oppressed, Every one by another and every one by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, And the base toward the honorable."

When adult children train their own children to disrespect the grandparents they are making the way for their children to treat them the same way they were taught to treat their grandparents.

It isn't about teaching children to be respectful to one person over another. If a child has a disrespectful attitude no matter who they choose to disrespect, they will have a character of disrespect.

Those who have been trained to be loving and kind will do it all the time to everyone, no one will be treated disrespectfully because it is not in their character.

When a child is trained either by example or with words to be disrespectful or respectful they will do it because of their character as a whole is permeated with the traits they have been indoctrinated to follow. We train children to develop a character more by our own actions than by our words.

Sadly many of us in my generation attempted to teach our children good things but they chose to follow the culture rather than our teaching and example. Many married people who were not taught right from wrong and were influenced by their spouses.

Words have little value if they are not backed up by a lifestyle. A child who is told to be respectful but watches disrespect in their parents will do what the parent does and not what they say.

Matthew 23:2-4 "…2“ The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.…"

Matthew 23:5-6 "5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"

When parents teach their children that appearances are far more important than substance they are training their children to devalue spiritual matters while holding close to their heart the things of this world.

Proverbs 3:3

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:"

Sadly many "Christians" are training their children to devalue the things of the soul and spirit while elevating outer appearances to be loved by the world around them.

John 15:18-20

"18 the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.

19 If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well."

1 John 2:15-16 " 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world."

Those who wish to teach the things of God will be despised by those who have a form of religion but deny Christ in their attitudes.

2 Timothy 3:5 " 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!" traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,"

Timothy 4:7

"But reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness."

Romans 16:17,18

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them"

We cannot completely get out of the world but we can avoid those who reject Christ and those who claim to be Christians but refuse to listen to the Word of God, making up their own rules and twisting Scripture to justify their disobedience and disrespect for the Word of God.

As we move closer to the rapture and the tribulation we will find it harder to have fellowship with authentic believers, most are pretenders and uninterested in deeply delving into the Word to discover God's truth.

2 Timothy 4:3

"3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires,"

Remember knowledge of this does not remove our joy and peace, that remains no matter what. However, we must refer back to God's promises to us to keep from being sucked into the foolishness these rebellious types bring. They want to derail our faith, joy and peace, do not let them.

Character Matters

We are weak in character if we need someone else's approval to do what is right in the sight of God.

Sealed by the Holy Spirit of God

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us Christ changed us into a new creation, the old is gone and the new is here to stay!?

We cannot change ourselves into a new creation it was the work of God and nothing He does can be undone by us.

We are sealed permanently until He comes for us.

Ephesians 1:13-14

"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,

14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, regarding the redemption of God’s possession, to the praise of His glory."

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. . ”

When Christ changes us He gets all the glory, we have nothing to do except to believe and trust in Him. He does all the rest from that point on, continually cleansing us until the end of our lives.

Ephesians 2:8-10 "…8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.…"

We are being sanctified by Christ Who lives in us until He takes us home.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Philippians 1:6

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

What a blessing to know that God is not going to quit on us, He keeps working and growing us until He takes us home. We are not left orphans without help.

John 14:17-19 "…17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live."

Hallelujah!!!!!!

Increased Anger in these Last Days

Over the past few years, I have noticed an increase in anger in many people. The anger inside of them is revealed in many ways, one of which is jealousy toward those who have great joy and peace in their hearts.

The Holy Spirit makes unbelievers uncomfortable with joy and peace because they know they don't have it. Instead of asking why someone is so peaceful the wicked person attempts to ruin that peace and joy.

Jealousy is the emotion that hates someone else's joy and peace while doing whatever the jealous person thinks they can justify removing that joy and peace. They will even make up lies about the one they hate to remove that godly joy. They can't remove it but they can cause others to dislike the godly one, this gives the wicked one great joy.

Instead of engaging happily with someone who is sharing joy, the resentful one engages in demeaning or dismissive gestures in a refusal to endorse the happiness of the other. They may completely ignore the one who is happy or they may use grunting noises without other responses to show disapproval. The goal of such a jealous person is to diminish the one who is full of joy and happiness.

If you have ever been around these people you know what a challenge it is to visit with them. As some people have expressed, these people "suck all the joy out of the room" when they walk in. They have a chip on their shoulder but lack communication skills so they use covert means to ruin the happiness of others. They seem sad all the time, and their happiness is only based on how much attention they are getting from others.

I have met genuinely joyful and peaceful people who have all the fruit of the Spirit. When these people walk in a room it is as though gladness and gratefulness walks in with them. They bring out the best in

others. The opposite is true of narcissists they tend to bring out the worst in those around them and they like it that way.

This is why God told believers to "come out from among them"

(2 Corinthians 6:16-18 "…16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” 17“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”…)

and to "avoid such people."

(2 Timothy 3:5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [b]godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.")

Lovely Spirit-filled people love comforting, helping, and encouraging those around them. They have all the fruit of the Spirit. Godly people do not care about controlling anything, they just want to love others the way Christ loves them.

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

The narcissist has so much anger in their heart that they want everyone else to feel terrible like they do with them coming out on top as the controller of all things.

1 John 4:8

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Godly people love God and love righteousness. Narcissists hate God and love evil.

Lovely Spirit-filled people NEVER treat anyone disrespectfully, they merely tell the truth of God and are accused of hatred for doing it. No matter how calm one's delivery is, if the narcissist doesn't like it they will claim things that are not true to justify their hatred for the one they despise.

Anger is not something that comes up when provoked, it is in the very heart and soul of the one given to anger. The anger is always just below the surface ready to emerge at the slightest perceived offense.

Those who do not become angry do not automatically rage, they ponder, they answer but they do not rage merely because of a disagreement.

If a born-again finds themselves having reacted badly they apologize because they hate hurting others. Narcissists love to harm others and claim it is their own fault.

1 Peter 2 is an excellent passage to read to understand God's way for the born-again believer.

16 Signs God Is Exposing a Narcissist in Your Life

Speak Truth and Leave the Results to God

When we have to figure out our own responses based on how others might react it will eventually cause doubt and confusion.

When we base our speech and actions on the Word of God we don't have to assess what others might think or how they will react. We have no reason to fear no matter what others say or do.

God's Word is true all of the time. We never have to guess what the right thing to do is because the Holy Spirit in us will speak as we read His Word.

If the answer we come up with is not supported in God's Word then we need to discard it and return once again to trusting Christ. Believe what He says in His Word and do it.

2 Timothy 4:2-4

"…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears, they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Knowing this we can expect opposition often to the Word of God. Those in opposition will attack us as though it were just our opinion, they will be wrong, ignore them and keep telling the truth.

There are many myths and traditions of men in the organized church today, we must be vigilant in our study of the Bible so that we too are not deceived.

Most people in the churches don't want to know the truth because they are comfortable with the traditions. They really don't care very much about truth.

Mark 7:13

"13 thereby invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Notice this phrase; "and you do many things such as that."

Peacemaker or Peacekeeper?

There is a difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. A peacemaker follows God's Word in making peace His Way for a godly solution. The peacekeeper goes along to get along and there is no solution.

The peacemaker looks into God's Word and prays to discover God's solution the peacekeeper only cares about pleasing people so there is no discussion only compromise.

The peacemaker's solution is a permanent one because it is God's wary.

The peacekeeper sweeps everything under the rug so no one grows or changes. A sort of putting on blinders to keep from having to do the hard work of a resolution.

The peacemaker brings healing and turns from sin to be cleansed from it. The wounds are completely healed never to return.

The peacemaker heals wounds superficially and temporarily so that the problem returns over and over again.

The superficial modern idea of forgiveness is like this, expecting people to say they forgive but there has been no solution or healing, only words that fall to the ground while the "feelings" of an unresolved matter return over and over again.

When we look to feelings we will miss the true healing that brings forth the fruit of a changed life.

Pretending something does not make for good healing. It's sort of like placing a bandaid over a gaping wound while the blood continues to gush from the wound.

Problems are not fixed by pretending it's over through "saying" I forgive. Problems are resolved through confession of sin and forgiveness extended.

Our culture spends far too much time on giving credence to feelings than they do on reality. Pretending something is true only delays resolution and even exacerbates things when left to fester too long. The longer confession of sin is delayed the less the offended is able to ever trust the offender again. There is no solution or reconciliation until both sides of the coin, confession and forgiveness, are experienced.

Anyone who is offensive but doesn't think they did anything wrong, will not be sorry and will even defend their rude actions and without a doubt will repeat the same actions again.

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

James 2:10

"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it."

Those who say they forgive without the requirement of confession of sin are peacekeepers, they do not have to do the hard and embarrassing work of confronting others to solve something. They pretend they have forgiven through words but in their heart they really have not because the relationship has not been restored.

People say; "I have forgiven but I have not forgotten", because nothing was resolved. Relationships are not mended by saying something, they are mended by the hard work of confrontation and discussion. If someone refuses to discuss rationally and rages then the relationship remains broken and there is no authentic forgiveness occurring.

The world has been teaching false ideas for many generations now based on psychology, not the Bible.

Psychology gets observations right sometimes about the actions of people but often it does not have the Biblical solution that works.

We must know the Bible well to be able to discern truth from error.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Politics, Healthy Food and Fun, I get so tired of Hearing about It!

If we spend most of our time researching and believing the ways of the world we will be in constant error. I do not speak of unbelievers here because they will not understand the ways of God. I focus on the wrongs in the church because we should know better. The unbelievers are focused on the world because they do not know better. Believers ought to be wholly focused on Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:13-15 "…13 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment."

Our world is so caught up in its own way of thinking based on human wisdom so much so that it cannot wrap its mind around spiritual matters given by God and this is in the Christian church.

The world is convinced that physical exercise is important, above almost anything else. It is believed that eating all the right food will keep them healthy while their bodies continue to deteriorate as regularly as anyone else's. Sometimes even damaging themselves with this exercise believing it will make them stronger and live longer.

Because of this worship of the body, that the world continually indoctrinates people to be focused on many are shortening their lives and damaging their organs. The world will be obsessive about the things God says are not important. They will lie and say these things are important, the opposite of what God says.

Satan has fooled Christians into believing things that will damage them instead of making them strong.

1 Timothy 4:8

"8 for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Extreme workouts are normal and eating "healthy" is preached daily by nearly everyone. But what is almost never spoken of is the need to seek Christ and follow what He tells us. Spiritual food is far greater than physical food. Spiritual exercise is far greater than physical exercise.

Sadly the ways of the world are in the church. When I am speaking to those in the church in a setting where we are just visiting all I hear about, from the women, is how unhealthy our food is and the need to do whatever we can to make ourselves healthy by the food we eat. Almost all I hear from the men is how important it is to exercise to make themselves healthy.

In these conversations, I almost never hear about the things of God that foster holiness or fully trusting in Christ. What we speak about the most is what we think about the most and what we are devoted to.

Those who spend most of their time speaking about healthy food and physical exercise are not focused on Christ but rather on their own ability to make themselves healthy through their own practices. Trusting in Christ does not seem important to those who are worldly focused.

Just a thought, when is the last time you were in a group of Christians just visiting and they spoke about Jesus Christ or His principles for holy living, paying more attention to Spiritual matters not physical or political?

Proverbs 4:23

"23 Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life."

We do and say that which is hidden in our hearts. We cannot do and say something that is different from within our hearts. We can lie but our body language and our actions will prove what is really in our hearts. We cannot hide very long before the real us emerges for all to see if they see with discerning Spiritual eyes.

Ephesians 4:23

"23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,"

When we walk with Christ He makes us renewed in our Spirit so that our words, attitudes and actions will match up with His and they will be consistently this way.

If we are thinking non-stop about Christ, praying without ceasing, and evaluating ourselves to make sure we are pleasing Christ we will not be continually speaking of politics, play, or food, we will be satisfied with God's provision while thanking Him for it.

I love my Christian friends but I confess sadness when rarely they speak the name of Jesus Christ while there is non-stop "health speak" pertaining to the body.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things."

1 Timothy 4:13

"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching."

Brothers and sisters who are walking with Christ love to speak about His principles, His promises, and Him, His character, everything is about Him.

JESUS vs RELIGION

Loving God's Way

Because the narcissist is so focused on self it is agonizing to spend time with them. It is usually an unhappy experience because they have no joy or peace, they don't laugh or share anything of their own feelings or emotions.

If they are not bragging about their own life they have nothing to say. They have no interest in you or outside of their own materialism or adventure activities.

It is absolutely boring to spend time with people who are so invested in appearing accomplished and perfect that they are like robots.

They never help when asked, they will only help if it's their own idea and for the purpose of being noticed by others.

I am saddened by the fact that so many people in our culture are like this. They attempt to appear perfect while judging everyone else as unworthy of respect.

It is important that we evaluate ourselves to make sure we are not one of those who operate as though we are the most important and the smartest above others.

The only way to examine ourselves is through the lens of The Word of God. Everything we say and do must be measured according to the Bible. If we sincerely want to make sure we are walking with Christ in authenticity we must read the Word of God to discover His heart and obey what He says in His Word.

No one can truly evaluate themselves and still have a high opinion of their own goodness. Everywhere we turn in the scriptures are admonitions that help us to realize no one is without a need for change.

We live in a culture that fosters anger and resentment over silly things while acting on the rudeness in their hearts.

In order to evaluate our own hearts it is good to look at what God calls love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away."

Those who live with unloving people day after day are in danger of becoming like those they live with unless they actively study God's Word and pray for God to change their hearts from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.

Colossians 3:14

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

There is no harmony with a narcissist because there is no love. It takes love to develop a relationship with someone.

John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

One does not have to die to lay down their life, we do it by letting go of a competitive spirit and a superior mindset. When we love the way God told us to love we will not be looking continually for flaws to judge, we will be looking to help through understanding and humble conversation, listening more than we speak.

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another.”

Many people are continually looking for something to complain about in those they dislike. The slightest disagreement is seen as a personal attack.

Many people in our culture are somewhat friendly when we agree with them but become ragingly infuriated when someone chooses their own path or disagrees with them. They can never ask questions like; "why do you think that way" or "What did you mean by that." To ask a question for clarification or to learn something new about the person is not on their radar, winning, even through mocking and intimidation is all these people care about.

It is impossible to have a relationship with those who elevate themselves to the level of godhood.

The best thing we can do is avoid these people and pray regularly that God will keep us from becoming like the world around us. The danger of cultural pressure is high, we must be vigilant in protecting ourselves from acquiescence, that is reluctantly accepting what is around us to avoid rejection.

We are always at risk of giving in to be accepted by others even when we do not want to agree.

The challenge is learning how to love others while they are disrespecting us. When we realize those who rage at others for disagreements are weak in their soul and in need of Jesus Christ we can remove ourselves without any desire to win over them.

Silence is golden when it prevents us from engaging with someone who has no interest in discussing a matter in which both parties have their say.

Narcissists cannot love those who do not think the way they do, do the things they do or say the things they say. Their false love is based on whether or not we elevate them and agree with everything they believe.

God's love is unconditional, it is not based on our performance, it is based on His sacrifice on the cross and our acceptance of Him. Those who do not accept Him will not have His protection because they are not a part of His family. Everyone who trusts in Christ will have His protection and His love.

1 John 4:7

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God."

We do not love people because they love us, we love them because God told us to love.

Sometimes our love is spurned and we must remove ourselves until there is repentance and a desire to reconcile. It is vitally important that we remember we cannot change anyone else, we can only change ourselves.

1 John 5:3 "“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”

To understand God's way of loving people we must know His Word, the Bible. We cannot love God's way until we know His Word.

The WORST Narcissist of All (Christian Covert Narcissist)

Not Shaken and Growing Stronger

People are desturbed not by the things that happen to them but by the view they have of those things. When we trust Christ we are not shaken by what happens to us.

Romans 8:28

"28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Remember when someone disrespects you it is not because of you but a display of their own thoughts, feelings, and fears. Their reactions to you are not a reflection of our value or worth.

Their disrespect does not have to affect our emotional state, we can remain calm when we know this about them.

If we self-reflect often to make sure we are walking upright then we will not be blind-sided by those who are disrespectful.

2 Corinthians 13:5 "5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you— unless you actually fail the test? "

1 Corinthians 11:28

"Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup."

Notice too that the quality of our thoughts determines the quality of our actions. Those who are kind and loving on the inside will not be rude and unkind on the outside. If someone is chronically rude and superior acting then we know they have arrogance and ruthlessness on the inside.

Loving and kind people are always striving to improve our thoughts and actions. The joyfulness of our lives focused on Christ determines the quality of our thoughts. Do those thoughts mesh with the principles of Christ or are they determined by the world?

If we are treated disrespectfully we can examine ourselves to see if we did something or said something worthy of the disrespect. We can do this without being devastated by the need to self-reflect. We can logically and unemotionally face the possibility that we need to correct something. It is pride that prevents people from freely self-reflecting to improve their character.

We cannot change another person, but we can change ourselves through prayer and the desire to be taught and changed by Christ.

We must be objective about ourselves without emotions in order to grow in holiness. Our responses must be based on rational judgment rather than emotional responses.

This process helps us learn from situations while becoming more aware of the teachings of life promoting personal growth and wisdom. Those who refuse to examine themselves cannot grow, they remain spiritual and emotional infants.

When we become angry instead of self-reflecting we have developed and increased a bad habit of angst that will not go away until there is repentance.

Poor decisions come from a lack of self-control and anger comes from a self-willed position of superiority. We unnecessarily suffer from this stubborn stance as well as making others suffer from our own impulsive fierce raging.

Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

It is vital that when we are disrespected we remember that it isn't personal to us, it is a reaction of the one who disrepects because of the fear that is inside of them. They fear losing control over others, they fear not being loved because they do not love others.

We need to treat others with the respect they did not show us.

Luke 6:27-28 "27But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "

We must remain dignified even if no one else does. Our dignity is not based on how others treat us and we don't have to respond to them the way they did to us.

Defensiveness shows a weakness of character. When we know our character is not based on what others think of us we can detach from the nasty reactions of weak people and love them anyway, the way they don't love us. This is not to say we become good friends, but life is full of circumstances in which we must be in the company of unkind and unloving people. We cannot allow them to turn us into them.

We are observers in life learning wonderful lessons from God when we watch actions and reactions without responding according to our feelings.

Meditate constantly on what is right from God's Word, it will be our strength through everything we endure in this world. We learn great lessons as if in a boot camp, that make us strong and impervious to attacks of the enemy.

Let us develop courage instead of fear and reaction. We must be reasonable, rational, and calm, this allows us to be unaffected by what comes at us.

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

By focusing on the principles of Christ and what He wants us to be we can avoid being influenced by our own emotions while maintaining our dignity as we grow spiritually and emotionally.

We must accept what we cannot change. We cannot change a disrespectful person but we can refuse to become like them by focusing on God's principles for our lives.

We must learn to refuse to grieve over those who hate us and rejoice for all that God has done for us.

Romans 12:12

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

Do not take seriously those things that are foolishly attempting to cause anger in us. Perhaps even laughing at the devil when he uses people to demean us.

Setting clear boundaries with people in this out-of-control world will help us discern who is able to be reached with the truth and who is not, the Holy Spirit will help us with this.

Remain calm as you tell the rude person what they did wrong and how they must treat you. If they refuse to listen and enjoy their disrespect of you then you are free to exclude them from your lives.

Those who are self-absorbed are not able to look more deeply into the other person in front of them. They only see their own point of view and are enraged if it is not accepted, or even if there is a desire to have a deeper conversation about the matter.

Self-absorbed people never ask you to explain your point of view. They do not think deeply about anything because they live by their feelings and defending those feelings comes before everything else. Reason and rational discussion is not in the mind of the self-absorbed person.

These people do not learn or grow emotionally or spiritually, they walk around like bratty six-year-olds refusing to hear instructions or correction.

Correcting a self-absorbed person is like beating your head against a brick wall expecting the wall to crack, it's only the head that cracks.

Disrespect is clearly the ignorance of the one who is insolent, and childlike in their thinking and response to minor things.

Proverbs 18:1-3 "1 He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment. 2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions. 3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.…"

Proverbs 29:8-10 "…8 Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger. 9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution. 10 Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.…"

Let's become strong while disallowing others to determine our responses by becoming Christ-like no matter what anyone else is doing.