James 3:13-18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

According to www.dictionary.com, this is the definition of "harbor" when used as a verb:

to give shelter to; offer refuge to: They harbored therefugees who streamed across the borders.

to conceal; hide: to harbor fugitives.

to keep or hold in the mind; maintain; entertain: to harborsuspicion.

to house or contain.

to shelter (a vessel), as in a harbor.

When I think of "harboring" bitter envy and selfish ambition in my heart, my first reaction is "I don't do that."

But as I read the definitions for the word "harbor," I know that in many ways I am guilty.

There are aspects of my life that I long to change.

There are dreams I long to fulfill.

There are prayers that weren't answered the way I pleaded.

When I am honest, and don't "deny the truth," I am very aware of the reality that I have got to "let go" of these feelings, releasing them from my "spiritual harbor."

God has a plan, and I have to keep on keeping on (as Joyce Meyer says), allowing Him to work His good work in me and in those I love.

I want to live a life focused on these attributes mentioned above:

pure

peace-loving

considerate

submissive

full of mercy and good fruit

impartial and sincere

When I am able to let go of the things I harbor and cling to the things God loves, I feel so free!

Free to be whatever it is that He is calling me to be.

Free to do His will today.

It may be a student who is having a bad day and needs to talk for a minute.

It may be another teacher who needs a word of encouragement.

It may be the time of cuddling with Olivia that makes all the difference in the world this evening.

I don't know.

I just know this:

God longs for me and you to live a life focused on Him not ourselves.

When I look up instead of around (or down), I see the Hope, the Peace, the Joy, the Comfort that comes from being His.

Let go and look up today!