"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men" (Ephesians 6:7).

Acting "as if" can give power to our life, as well as save what sanity we think we have.

If we are angry with someone, we can act "as if" we love him and eventually we will love him. I believe that loving is an act of the will, just as forgiving is the act of willing what is best for the other person.

Acting as if gets us beyond what is, and helps us to become what God wants us to be.

I've learned through the years that the action indeed brings the feeling. If we are upset with our spouse, then do something kind, change the bed, cook a good meal, etc., and soon we will forget what bothered us so. If we feel like disowning our whining child--well, act as if it doesn't bother us, and put in the ear plugs. Even the dog will benefit if we make the choice to serve the Lord, thereby serving those who irritate beyond reasoning.

It's balm. Instead of retaliating in kind, BE kind!! We might also say that instead of giving our irritant a piece of our mind, if we act "as if" we have the mind and heart of Christ, we will enjoy peace of mind. Who knows, we might actually turn into a nice person!