What Do You Want To Grow?

"Valor grows by daring, fear by holding back."

Publilius Syrus








Lots of people suggest that the proper way to deal with anger is to find a safe way to express it such as hitting a pillow.  The trouble is that I have noticed the more you express anger the more likely you become to need to express anger.  While having an angry outburst might temporarily relieve the pressure you are feeling within, the reality is that the more you express that anger the more likely you are to need to express anger in the future.  I call it feeding the giant.  The more you feed the anger the more it grows, and there is nothing like a little outburst to feed the anger.  I've learned that this principle is true in many areas of life and so when I read the above words of Publilius Syrus I was immediately attracted to them.  Valor does indeed grow as we take little steps of daring just as fear grows as we give in to it a little at a time.  Consider the words of scripture as found in the two passages below:

• "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  (James 4:7)
• "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."  (Philippians 4:8-9)

What are you planning to grow this week?