Day 123 May 3 2 Timothy 2:23

2 Timothy 2:22-26Run away from infantile indulgence.Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey.You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.A baby wants what it wants when it wants it. As I got older I learned to control myself. I learned delayed gratification. I have also learned there are things I want that are bad for me. Infantile indulgence is wanting what I cannot have even though it is bad for me. And then going after it.A very good example of this is the five minutes of gratification I get from a double cheeseburger and hot fudge sundae from McDonald’s. Aside from the questionable nutrition in this, I am allergic to the bun, the ketchup, the mayonnaise, mostly likely the ingredients in the processed cheese, the ingredients in the hot fudge and the ice cream. But I recently got these items and enjoyed the five minutes it took to consume them.The next three days were spent dealing with the after effects of my indulgence. It just isn’t worth it, is it?Lord, help me to run away from infantile indulgence. Forgive me for my stubbornness and willfulness that gets me into trouble. Help me to understand which of my desires are indulgence and which ones come from you. And then give me the strength to pursue only the desires that come from you.Help me to run after mature righteousness, faith, love and peace. Help me to join into honest and serious prayer before you. Keep my heart pure and focused on you and what mission you have for me today.Help me to be a peacemaker today. Do not let me be drawn into inane discussions, silly things that are not of your kingdom, that always end up in fights or name-calling. Help me to be a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool at all times.Help me to be patient with those who do not know you or are not living with their focus on you. This way I may play a part in turning them to the truth of your love so that they can escape the Devil’s trap.Give me courage to be a peacemaker today. Fill me with your gentleness and your joy.