My bad day {GMG Week 7 Reflection}

This week the Good Morning Girls studied 1 John 3:11-24;

"For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever had the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him.  In whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." (NASB)

During my reflection time on this passage, I was looking back over my journal from this week and I want to share a quick prayer I had written;

God, I'm having a rough morning.  I'm finding it nearly impossible to keep my temper in check with Q and I'm having a hard time controlling my emotions. I'm cranky and sad and am feeling selfish but I don't even know what I want. Please help me to put Q's needs first and to act out of love for him and everyone else unfortunate enough to cross my path today! Sorry for my lack of focus studying Your Word this morning- I can't seem to get in the right frame of mind.


I was having a bad morning but when the baby finally went down for his nap I habitually opened up my Bible and journal to do my quiet time even though all I really wanted to do was eat chocolate and veg out in front of the TV. As mentioned in my prayer, it definitely wasn't the most productive and enlightening quiet time due to my lack of focus, but God was faithful to use His Word to change me even if I didn't know it was happening.

This passage is all about love.  Loving one another as a sign of abiding in God's love. I was not feeling very loving that morning. And when the baby woke up from his nap (still inexplicably cranky) my circumstances had not changed, but my heart had. By the grace of God and the power of His Word, I had a much better afternoon than I did morning.  Life didn't become all rainbows and unicorns and it certainly wasn't the best day I'd ever had, but I felt peace instead of turmoil, strength instead of weariness, and love instead of frustration.

Have you ever felt like I did that morning? Maybe once a month ladies...? haha! Next time, try spending some time in God's Word, even if you don't feel like it, and see how He is able to overcome your bad mood:-)