We've all done it. Said those words....you know, the words you say when you stare at someones "status" in disbelief. Or when you view someone dressed in something you thoughts was inappropriate, OR when someone said something in front of you about someone else... You know the words. "I would NEVER...say...wear...think... THAT."
Two things right off the bat. I am not condoning talking badly about others behind another persons back. Nor am I condoning rude comments, or off-colored humor. But what I AM saying is something all folks should be aware of is.... the judgmental thinking we so quickly turn to. And in doing so, we try and elevate ourselves to a position above the one we judge. That type of thinking is wrong, and judgment is not ours to be had.
God can deal with my attitude before it becomes a judgement. Often I pray, "Lord, give me right thinking." I know the direction my mind is prone to go all on it's own. SO I also recognize that I need help. *some days more than others for sure.
If I find myself feeling uniquely pessimistic for no apparent reason...I need to stop, drop and pray. Check myself, and ask God to check me, and see if there is any offensive way within me. (Psalm 51) and then move on only when I feel I have fully given my wrong attitudes over to The Lord. I don't want to step my foot out the door if I am not fully covered in all that I need to be all that will bring Christ's name glory.
It feels good to be better than someone else. It's human nature to be competitive, and even to want to be the best. Sometimes we are feeling particularly bad about ourselves, so we feel the intense desire to put someone else down thinking that will in turn make us feel better about ourselves? Why we as adults do this is beyond me. It didn't work in 3rd grade so I don't know why we think it will work now as adults. The pure and simple fact that we feel this way is a good indicator that we need to be spending more time with the Creator of us, to see what is valuable about us, so our need to build ourselves up in our own destructive ways diminish.
It's so easy to fall into the trap of wrong thinking. To elevate ourselves. To say "I would never..." in your heart or with your mouth is just another way we try to gain significance in our minds (or in others minds) by the unstated, "I'm better than that person."
Of course I do this too. Of course I fall, stumble and think wrongly. And then I'm left with the emptiness that creeps in. You see, it doesn't really make me feel better because when I speak badly about another person, really, I'm just bashing one of God's prized masterpieces. GOD created the person I'm speaking down too, or about and somehow, someway, when I speak thus, I think I'll feel better? Wrong thinking...up one side and down the other.
SO where do I begin? How to stop this? What now?
Take it a moment at a time. Rely on the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out. You will be more at peace then, and the desire to put others down, will diminish because of the joy and peace you feel because you are so filled by God.
How do we rely on the Spirit? Couple of things. We pray. ALL THE TIME seriously. When I pray about this situation, and that situation and the next moment, things begin to flow and I feel more content with who I am as God's creation. Next, I read His words. I study His thoughts. And I learn from Him that way. Like this verse...
Do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. (Romans 11:18 NIV)
That's applicable don't you think? Often times in my daily study of His word I do this...I pray for a verse to stand on for that day. Anyone can do this you know. You don't have to be super-christian, or super spiritual. Just open His word, pray and read. Simple and yet so beautiful.
I have yet to have a time where GOD has not met me there. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him! (that's scripture too!) and what is this reward? Himself! I get more of HIM. I get His filling, His peace and His Joy! Do you know what else I get? The strength I need for that day, to be who God needs me to be.
Not so I can be "in better standing with God." (although I love feeling like I did a good job for Him) but that I can be a good witness for His name. So that I can fame the name that set me free!
The other thing I will add, is that putting others down, really makes us miserable. It's bondage. It puts us in a trap of yucky. The more bad you say, the more you feel you have to say to keep making yourself feel better. Pretty soon your known as one who speaks badly of others. Trust me, I know from experience, that is not the reputation you want to have. But that's the past right?! Thanks be to God for His grace. And guess what? Tomorrow is a new day. Guess what else? His Mercies are new every morning. (that's scripture too!) and really, I am so thankful. Tomorrow may be much less than perfect in terms how I feel towards others. OR, in the grace which God provides, I can think the way God wants me to think. I can honor Him, and respect others. I can do this by the grace in which he supplies me with. What a good thing. What a good God. Anyone encouraged? I love that God always gives us a way out when we are faced with temptation. And we can use the lifeline anytime, limitlessly. Grace Grace, God's grace.
The only time we should say, "I would never..." Is when we finish it off with, "say something bad about anyone."
No comments:
Post a Comment