Inundated Joy

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In my lucid moments between nurturing, disciplining, feeding, and playing, I wish I could give the people around me a simple gift. Joy. Harsh words full of hate and venom pass by my ears and rash lines of condemnation float across a screen before my eyes. I am left bewildered and how those who are endowed with every spiritual gift this side of heaven can heap criticism upon criticism. I long to be far from the critical spirit that is fueled by insecurity. I beg God to help me think of these people and honor them more than I do myself. Then I weep at my failure. So, I let this sweep over me. 

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." - Philippians 2:3-4

This is easy to do with people you think are better than you, but what about the ones who are rude, uncaring, and demonstratively hateful? What then? How then? How do you press on to honor and think of others as better than yourself? Prayer. That must be the answer. Thankfulness for the good attributes. Asking God to show you the beauty that you cannot see. Praying that your heart will not be critical and hard. Praying that people are free to experience the kindness of Christ toward others. Praying that those you love and want to be set free experience wild, deep, inundated joy. 

May we think on others more than ourselves today.

Comments

maggie may said…
i've been doing the excellent wife study for awhile now, and that verse from phil is repeated over and over and over again. it's hard to do, but amazing!
8:54 PM
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