Sowing Seeds in My Life {Ephesians 4:2}

A couple of years ago, I was convicted about some sin that hit me hard.  It hurt bad.  Not surprisingly, it had to do with the words I say and the way I say them.  Thankfully, the people around me showed me gallons of grace and walked with me to start new.  At that point, I wrote out this verse and hung it in my office to see daily.

Be completely humble and gentle.  Be patient; bearing with one another in love. - Ephesians 4:2

I need reminded of this verse so often.  I have found myself slipping into old habits sins lately, and I don't like it at all.  I know our Father has been trying to nudge me on this issue, and move me into correction rather than good thoughts about changing.  I am doing Beth Moore's Stepping Up  with some other young women right now, and today we all agreed about the impact of these words.

"Why have many of us read books on forgiving people, knowing the teachings were true and right, cried over them, marked them up with our highlights, yet remain in our bitterness? Because we ate the seed instead of sowing it ... the Word of God can fill our stomachs and give us immediate satisfaction and still not produce a harvest - that's when we eat it but don't sow it" {Stepping Up, pg. 81}

Instead of just saying, "Yes Lord!  I want to change!", I want to sow the seed of change in my life and do something.  My instinct in interactions with others is often judgment instead of grace.  I respond out of emotion instead of deliberate love.  I get annoyed instead of being patient.  I overlook my failings while seeing others so quickly.  As I've considered this, the verse from Ephesians came back to mind.  I removed that sign a while ago, but I knew I should do something to keep it in front of me - to remind myself to sow seeds of the change instead of just talking about it.  I made a lock screen for my phone so I can see these words over and over each day - when I'm sending emails, when I want to tweet something snarky, when I am annoyed by someone on Instagram. Sow the seeds, don't eat them.

Maybe I'm the only one that struggles with this.  But if not, here's a little reminder for you too: