Max Lucado is one of my favorite authors. If you haven’t read any of his books, you’re seriously missing out on one of the great writers of our day. He speaks in such simple, yet stunning, language. He explains things of God to me in ways I’ve never heard.

I’m finding great inspiration and encouragement in his daily devotional, Grace For The Moment. There is actually an entry for both morning and evening—so I can keep it right by my bed, both beginning and ending my day with a taste of grace.

I just read an entry that really hit me. He talks about how when people say or do things that get under our skin, we actually have a choice in the matter of how we’re going to react. He says,

“At this point you need to make a choice. Am I going to keep a list of these wrongs? You can… Or you can do something else. You can take those thoughts captive. You can defy the culprit. Quote a verse if you have to: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Rom. 12:14 NIV). You are not a victim of your thoughts. You have a vote. You have a voice.”

So many times I settle for anger, resentment or even just frustration. I act as if I don’t have a say in the emotions I experience. Are you like this? If I’m being completely honest, it’s easy to escape the day-to-day doldrums (and feel more fully alive) when I let my emotions run rampant. I wonder if in the back of my head I think the worst thing I could do is to not have any feelings. When in actuality, the worst thing I can do is to let my feelings have free reign over my life and my attitudes toward my circumstances and the people around me.

HOPE reminds me that I have a choice. I may not be able to choose my circumstances, but I can choose my attitude toward them.

How do you keep your emotions in check? Shoot me a comment down below and let me know your secrets!

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