Real Dudes,
I want to continue being real with each of you. I have noticed times in my life when I am pouting about something. I get discouraged thinking about how it’s possible for a 46-year-old man to still be reacting in such a way. I recently shared this concern with a group of grown men I'm close with, only to find out that some of them too find themselves at times acting the same way in their own lives. When we think of pouting, we often think of a young child throwing a tantrum. And we try to quickly redirect that child's actions so they don't grow up to act in such a way. Who knows what the Lord is thinking when He sees His children pouting.
A closely related word to pouting is self-pity. Below is an article from gotquestions.org that will assist those of us who at times struggle in this area to work on overcoming pouting/self-pity. I pray that each of us will take some time for some self-examination concerning this issue and then ask the Lord what His next steps are for each of us.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate
 
Article: What does the Bible say about self-pity? From gotquestions.org.

Real Dudes,
Part of my Supervisory duties at work involves the hiring of new employees. One question that we ask during the interview process is, “Describe a time when you have given up something important to you to help someone else.” The most common answer we receive deals with the idea of the giving of their time to others. I’m learning more and more that time is very important to each of us in some way.
Prayer…Lord, help me to use my time the way you’d have me too. Help me to not hold too tightly to it that I never want to give any of it to others and at the same time help me not to give too much of my time in an unhealthy way. I want to use the time You’ve given me for your honor and glory. So, please, Lord, show me how I can use my time wisely and how to use it to benefit others as You lead. I am available, interruptible, and willing when that time comes. Help me to be a good steward of the time you’ve allowed me to have while here on this earth. Keep using me while I’m here. Your faithful and obedient child. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Nate
For further study…
Article from gotquestions.org: What is the meaning of "redeeming the time" in Ephesians 5:16?

​I’ll end with this illustration of a Fly Trap.

• Each summer I get fed up with the flies biting me while I try to enjoy my time in our pool. So, this summer I purchased several fly traps from our hardware store. All I have to do is cut a hole in the top, add water to the plastic container, and hang it up outside. It’s amazing how the researchers found a mixture that they came up with and put inside these containers that would only attract flies…and boy does that mixture smell horrible. As I watch over time, I see no beetles, no wasps, no other insects, only flies. These researchers and producers knew what attracts only flies. CRAZY! In time, flies begin examining the container and in no time they’re on their way in…little do they know, there’s no way out. They look like popcorn in the microwave…going here and there looking for a way out. It’s a clear container, so other flies can see what the others are experiencing…makes no difference, they too begin entering the container. Doesn’t take long and they all pass away. Just imagine if you will, that I cut a slit in that bag…what would the flies do? Escape as fast as possible, right?
• Listen, Satan knows exactly what bait each of us will take. He’s been around a long time…he’s had lots of time and experience with the sins of mankind. And many times over we find ourselves taking the bait and entering the trap, even when we’ve seen others fall because of making the same decision. Doesn’t matter…in we go. God comes along, cuts a slit in the trap and says, “I’ve made a way to escape.” Some of us sprint out, and others of us remain in our stink. We see the way out but ignore it. Why? Because we’ve set our heart on a thing and it doesn’t matter what it costs us. Almost as though we feel like we deserve to remain in our stench. But God cares…and He’s made a way out. Take that exit, and sprint after Him. Look for opportunities to escape this sin and surrender all of yourself to Him alone. God can and will still use you…trust Him.
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For further study…see how this played out in David’s life as well.

• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+11&version=ESV
• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel+12&version=ESV

​So, what can we as followers of Christ be Looking for an opportunity to do today?
Be watchful --- For what?

• 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be alert...!
  • Be watchful for Satan’s involvement…refuse the bait he’s dangling in front of you. Resort to God’s word, just like Christ did when Satan tried to tempt Him.
• Matthew 24:42 (NIV) Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
• 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV) Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 

Be devoted ---

• 2 Peter 1:3-7 (NIV) His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Be covetous ---

• Consider the virtues we just read about in 2 Peter 1…goodness, etc.
• 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
• Want these virtues. Want more grace, knowledge and wisdom. Make every effort to get them…all for His glory.

 
What are you watching for, devoting yourself to, coveting?
You might think, “I’m not a Judas…I would never look for an opportunity to take the bait from Satan.”
Let me remind us…

• 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
• 1 Kings 8:38 (NKJV) …each one knows the plague of his own heart…
  • the disease, affliction, trouble, cancer of his own heart.
• So, what are you looking for the opportunity to ______________? Remember, that blank will look different for each of us. Spend some time asking the Lord how He'd have you resolve it. 

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Looking for an opportunity to___________________…, right?

Watchful --- he is always looking for the right moment to find people, especially Christ-followers, in their weakest moments.

• When are Christians found in their weakest moments?
  • Proverbs 13:19 (ESV) A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
  • It’s when they refuse to turn away from evil and foolishness. Why would they make this choice?
    • In reference to Proverbs 13:19, one author points out an important fact that “The lesson of the proverb is that
      to set your heart on a thing is to weaken the power to assess it. It must be had, at all costs, not now because of its worth but because you have promised it to yourself.”
    • Proverbs 17:12 (NIV) Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.
      • This same author also points out from Proverbs 17:12 that if a fool “has an idea in his head, nothing will stop him.”
    • Romans 7:7-8 (NLT) 7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse [(produces)] all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.
    • James 1:15 (NLT) These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
      • Physical and or Spiritual Death…Satan’s objective fulfilled.
    • I recall a couple different times when I allowed the thought of purchasing a dog and a vehicle to enter my mind and desires. Regardless of wisdom (my wife) shouting out to not make these purchases, I just couldn’t get them off my mind and had to follow through with buying them, just so I could stop thinking about them.

Devoted --- he’ll stay at his task for as long as he wants. Just like he kept dangling bait in front of the Lord in Matthew 4:1-11, he’ll do the same to you.  Will you resist or take the bait?

Covetous --- he’d love nothing more than to try to bring a Christ-follower down…and then bring their faults before the Lord.

• Rev. 12:10b (NIV) For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 

​So, what can we as followers of Christ be Looking for an opportunity to do today? That's what we'll discuss next time.