Sometimes at the end of the day I feel like a failure. I did no good deed other than the hustle and bustle of the day.
I feel like I missed opportunities to be a helping hand to someone or to do more than I was willing at the time.
Sometimes I feel like I don't know when to have an opinion and when to give in to someone's wants.
Sometimes I feel like I do something to please others without checking to see if I can actually do it.
Sometimes I want to do something for somebody, but a prior engagment prevents me from helping, so I am left feeling terrible.
I feel this... I feel that... I feel pathetic.
You know, I think all these thoughts of mine have been a part of some twisted scheme by Satan to feed my pride. I feel like the world revolves around me. Everyone needs help from me. My salvation is aquired by me.
No it's not. None of it is.
We look upon the face of God for this one thing. Grace that has led to a relationship with him. Being in a relationship with him we see what we can do because of him, not because of who we are.
Whenever I feel like I have failed God or people in my life, I need to cross examine myself, and ask:
Was I honestly not able to help, or was I being lazy?
Am I doing something the Lord has set before me, even I am missing out on doing something else that seems right?
What is my focus on: God or my desires? (Colossians 3:2)
Today as you walk into opportunities of whether or not to do something that seems right, we have to ask ourselves about our motives. Are they for God? Are they focusing on others? Are they coming from a pure heart looking at God or a heart looking at ourselves? Most importantly, if we don't do something in front of us, are we going to be upset over missing out what we could have done for God or what we didn't do for somebody? Are we afraid of upsetting God or that somebody?
I beginning to recognize that if we are afraid of upsetting anyone or being a bad person, we are not resting in His grace alone.
What we should do instead is ask what he would have us do today, not what we cannot do.
Did you ever hear how you shouldn't keep telling a child no, no, no? That's because it reinforces a negative realm of discipline, and it never encourages a child to know what is right. Much like our heavenly father who tries to discipline us.
He gave us commands, like the the Ten Commandments, but he also said to "love your neighbor as yourself" and "to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." Positive and helpful to know how we are straightout live for God. If Jesus had said, "don't hate your neighbor" or "don't hate the Lord your God with any part of your heart, soul, mind, and strength," it would seem like we were like that cow in a fenced area testing out its limits, and being zapped by the fence everytime for seeing where he could not go. Weird illustration, but I hope you get my point.
We focus on love, instead of hate. We focus on the joy in helping, not the terror of it.
God doesn't want to place limits on us. He wants to give us opportunities. When we look back ta a day and think, "Wow, I really blew it," think about whether or not you really spent your day doing what the Lord ask you to do compared to what the Lord didn't tell you to do.
It has helped me realize that I cannot do everything. I cannot make everyone happy. And I don't always find contentment in the so-called only righteous acts I can do on this green earth. You know, sometimes God just calls us to show up to work on time, call a friend, or take care of our family. Simply to show our God we love him in the opportunities naturally presented to us.
Let's stop beating ourselves up, and actually ask first what God will have us to do. Doing so, we focus on him, and less on our self pity.
Homework
Luke 18:9-14~ I read Luke 18 today, and found it to be enlightening to the simple fact that we rely on God's grace alone. Look at the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector, and ask yourself, "Who was more righteous in the eyes of God?" Why do you think this? Do you think the tax collector even knew what God thought of him after he prayed? Would he have to change his ways of living to honor God? You decide, but remember even the Pharisee wasn't seen as being honorable in the sight of God, even with all the good things he had done. It was all about the two men's hearts in this parable.
OR
Luke 18:15-17~ Reading about the disciples reactions to the children being handed to Jesus, why do you think they reacted the way they did? Is there anything you can relate to the disciples about in this instance? Perhaps a moment of knowing what you think is right, but not really? ;)
OR
Luke 18:18-30~ Do you think the ruler had the opportunity to serve God after talking to Jesus? Why do you think that opportunity was presented to him? Do you think he loved God or his money? Is what you do in a day based on your love for God or how much good you do?
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