"Bless them Change Me" is a great tool when confronted with someone that annoys or offends me. Sometimes I have to say it over and over and over. I love it; it usually powerfully defuses me and lets me gain perspective. I am not sure if I am asking the Lord to change my perspective or allow Grace or to teach me something.
One truth I have found consistent is If someone's behavior, attitude, or speech really annoys or offends me, it is always a characteristic I can find in myself. Normally I will try to deny it because I find that truth to be ugly.
The first time I became aware of this, it shocked the truth right into me. I have a few people in my life that are very negative, always jumping to the worst conclusion, seeing the worst in people, talking about people's faults behind their backs, and expecting gloom and doom. Well, I was having a conversation about one of these people. I had gone on and on complaining about this person and their negativity. I continued to list many examples that have occurred throughout the years. BAM!!!! It hit me; that was exactly what I was doing. I was talking about someone behind their backs, about their faults, in a very negative condemning way. Until I found the Lord, this was a great tool for self-reflection, but gave me little more than insight.
Now if someone is really annoying or offensive, it is a great opportunity to ask the Lord to reveal to me what I need to know about myself. Is there unrepentant sin, wounding, or unforgiveness? I then ask the Lord to guide me through it.
When I tell people this, the normal response is disbelief. Another example I find in myself is judging another's parenting. 100% of the time if I judge a parent of trying to be friends with their kids instead of the parent, I have done it recently. If I judge a parent of not facing the flaws of their kids, Yep! my kids would have pulled a "fast one" on me recently. This also applies to even more intense offenses; I am not a drug addict faced with losing my children because I cannot give up my drug, but I do have idols the Lord wants me to give up, and as hard as I try, I have not yet. I am not the lady in the grocery line paying for an expensive piece of meat with food stamps (that really angers some), but I am the lady that has been extremely financially irresponsible, going out to a nicer restaurant when I have not paid my bills yet.
I also believe the Lord brings people into my life to hold a mirror up to my true self. This is a great opportunity to ask the Lord for revelation.
Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
I would like to tell any readers, please feel free to leave a comment, and please read the ones left by others. I have learned so much from them. People that have been walking with the Lord far longer than I, people that have endured much worse than I and become victorious through God, post here.
Thank You Jesus for community, Thank You for never leaving us alone and constantly bringing us closer to You.
One truth I have found consistent is If someone's behavior, attitude, or speech really annoys or offends me, it is always a characteristic I can find in myself. Normally I will try to deny it because I find that truth to be ugly.
The first time I became aware of this, it shocked the truth right into me. I have a few people in my life that are very negative, always jumping to the worst conclusion, seeing the worst in people, talking about people's faults behind their backs, and expecting gloom and doom. Well, I was having a conversation about one of these people. I had gone on and on complaining about this person and their negativity. I continued to list many examples that have occurred throughout the years. BAM!!!! It hit me; that was exactly what I was doing. I was talking about someone behind their backs, about their faults, in a very negative condemning way. Until I found the Lord, this was a great tool for self-reflection, but gave me little more than insight.
Now if someone is really annoying or offensive, it is a great opportunity to ask the Lord to reveal to me what I need to know about myself. Is there unrepentant sin, wounding, or unforgiveness? I then ask the Lord to guide me through it.
When I tell people this, the normal response is disbelief. Another example I find in myself is judging another's parenting. 100% of the time if I judge a parent of trying to be friends with their kids instead of the parent, I have done it recently. If I judge a parent of not facing the flaws of their kids, Yep! my kids would have pulled a "fast one" on me recently. This also applies to even more intense offenses; I am not a drug addict faced with losing my children because I cannot give up my drug, but I do have idols the Lord wants me to give up, and as hard as I try, I have not yet. I am not the lady in the grocery line paying for an expensive piece of meat with food stamps (that really angers some), but I am the lady that has been extremely financially irresponsible, going out to a nicer restaurant when I have not paid my bills yet.
I also believe the Lord brings people into my life to hold a mirror up to my true self. This is a great opportunity to ask the Lord for revelation.
Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
I would like to tell any readers, please feel free to leave a comment, and please read the ones left by others. I have learned so much from them. People that have been walking with the Lord far longer than I, people that have endured much worse than I and become victorious through God, post here.
Thank You Jesus for community, Thank You for never leaving us alone and constantly bringing us closer to You.
