I knew it wouldn‘t be long before I exploded, too. So, one day I askedmy dad if there was a way I could defuse my anger on the spot. "Well,"
he said, "the most effective way I have found is to pray the Lord‘sPrayer inwardly while breathing slowly with every line." - P61
It did notsound like groundbreaking advice but desperate as I was, I resolvedto follow it. The result was that I never once lost my temper at work,even on the most stressful days. - P61
It was while studying Psalm 4 that I began to understand why thatstrategy had worked so well. Verse 4 says, "Be angry, and do not sin;ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Offer rightsacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD" (ESV). - P61
In other words,
when anger would have you frenzied and agitated, signal to your bodythat it is to rest-hence the advice to breathe. - P61
When anger would haveyou lash out, order your tongue to be silent. - P61
And rather than raiseyour voice at others, raise a prayer to God. This takes practice, butyour health-physical, mental, and spiritual and your relationshipswill be the better for it. - P61
37 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan‘shad fallen, Jonathan called out after him, "Isntthe arrow beyond you?" - P62
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the southside of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan threetimes, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed eachother and wept together-but David wept the most. - P63
42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we havesworn friendship with each other in the name of theLORD, saying, "The LORD is witness between you andme, and between your descendants and my descendantsforever."" Then David left, and Jonathan went back tothe town. - P63
Jonathan goes out to the field with a small boy. He shoots an arrow beyondthe boy, and the boy picks up the arrow and returns to his master. - P63
David getsup and bows before Jonathan three times. They kiss each other and weep,
and Jonathan tells David to go in peace. David leaves, and Jonathan goesback to the town. - P63
Jonathan faithfully fulfills his promise by informing David that his lifeis in danger. - P64
In response, David falls reverently to the ground beforeJonathan in gratitude. Their farewell is truly a precious moment be-tween these two men, and they openly express their love for each otherand their sorrow over having to part ways. - P64
Have you ever expressed thislevel of affection in your own friendships? Many of us probably havenot. - P64
But it is a good thing to show others, especially fellow believers,
how much we love and appreciate them. - P64
It takes courage to expose ourdeepest emotions, or to even allow ourselves to have such feelings in thefirst place. - P64
But let us love one another without holding back becausethis is how God has loved us. - P64
Before Jonathan takes leave of David, he reminds him of the covenantof friendship that they share, which not only binds the two men butalso extends to their descendants forever. - P64
The depth of this bond is remarkable,
and we as believers have the privilege of being members of asimilar covenant. - P64
Paul writes to the Galatians, "If you belong to Christ,
then you are Abraham‘s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal.
3:29). - P64
God‘s covenant puts us in direct union with Christ and it alsoconnects us to all the people of God throughout history. - P64
We are included in the long line of
faithful saints that God has set apart for Himselfbecause of the work of Christ. - P64
Jesus, through Your blood, You have brought all believers into an everlastingcovenant with You. - P65
Help us to love one another and to be witnesses of Yoursaving grace to the ends of the earth. In Your name, amen. - P65
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