“Do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does good is from God.”
-3 John 11

A recent episode of the hit Television show, "Dog Whisperer", reminded me of a clear Scriptural truth. Prada the Pomeranian was exhibiting temper tantrums and deliberate disobedience. These troublesome outbursts caused Prada's owners to call in Caesar, the famous dog Behaviorist. Amazingly, Caesar's solution involved bringing in Louie the Lhaso Apso. Why little Louie? Louie was Caesar's most socially-skilled dog. What was Louie's secret weapon? Simple as it sounds, it was Louie's responding by ignoring Prada and her irritating rampages. According to Caesar, Louie had learned to "respond with a different spirit".  Prada's behavior was curtailed and all was well.

I know you're wondering, "Why the dog story"? Because it paints a clear and unforgettable picture of how Christ’s followers should respond when we encounter hostility, anger and problematic people. The pride of our flesh desires to "match" such emotions in others and declare a "win" in the moment. Simple as it sounds, His Word directs us to respond with a different spirit, the socially-skilled attitude of our Christ, securing a win of peace, if not in the other person at least within ourselves. A victory worth working for indeed! An eternal victory!

If you don't like something Change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.."
- Mary Engelbreit