Why do we think that the misdeeds of others are greater than our own? “Look at how she treats her children and observe how he betrays his wife.” Do we cast disparagement to make us feel better about ourselves? “Listen to the way she talks.” Do we engage in it to improve how others perceive us?
Does how other people view us supersede how the Bible instructs us to live? Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Do you believe the word “hypocrite” is too strong? Do you think it accurately describes how we present ourselves to gain acceptance? Shouldn’t we behave as though the party of One matters more than how many people view us?
Alexander Pope discussed a medical report on patient safety in his Essay on Criticism. He asserted that errors shouldn’t be held accountable or punished. Instead, he makes the case that the system is flawed. One of the most famous quotes in life come from his work; “To err is human, to forgive divine.” What emotions this ought to stir up within you! Humans make mistakes, and only God is capable of such a level of forgiveness!
Most of the time, I feel more human than most because I keep committing sin after sin with no end in sight. I make an effort to remind myself using these times that I yearn for God’s infinite forgiveness because we fall short of His expectations on a regular basis as humans.
I am the one who uses other people to gain favor or appreciation from people I think matter to. I don’t always bother to read the room and have a terrible sense of humor that borders on idiocy. When I should be demonstrating to people how to be the hands and wet of Jesus, I bring tension from my job to my home and vice versa, which causes me to lose my temper. I wish these were the worst aspects about who I am and what I have done.
Writing about all my flaws and sins could cause me to become lost in myself. Something I fear. Gluttony is the one that sparked this post. I come up with justifications for why I emotionally eat, and then I find myself gaining weight quickly. I then eat after that as a result of my depression and then find myself stuck in a vicious loop that I cannot escape.
I feel as though my deep-seated fears strongly impact my desire to lose weight. I lose control when seeking the Divine pardon because I convince myself that I deserve this for one reason to another. Why is it so much simpler to give others strength and encouragement but we can’t even follow our own advice.
Why am I delaying improving my diet and making better health decisions until after my surgery? Don’t I know that it is best to have surgery when you are healthy, powerful, and not carrying around extra weight (Jeu de mots intended)? I am still maturing, therefore I am stating these things to help me feel not so alone. Maybe if I express my emotions verbally (written), I can better handle them.
More to myself than anything I say: Your mission isn’t an enormous, overwhelming thing that you are going to find somewhere. I have to tell myself when I struggle to accept finding my inner power. It encompasses all you have done, are doing, and will do. These things link the pieces of your life together so that you and others can benefit from their significance and worth.
I am a work in progress, I am reinventing myself!
When God's plan isn't obvious 