It Only Took a Whisper
Do you have a favorite author or blogger? If so, have you ever wondered exactly what makes this person stand out? Mine is Lysa Terkeurst. Why? Because I can relate to her. I love how she is so open about her imperfections, and I appreciate that she shares how God has revealed those to her (and what to do to change) through life experiences. I don’t find myself being envious of all her accomplishments, and there are many – primarily because she doesn’t boast about those in her writings; her focus is all about helping other women in this game we call life. That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.
I was reading one of her posts the other day, and after clicking on one of the many names listed of women who contributed to the Proverbs 31 Ministry blog, I stumbled upon a post from Amy Carroll. Again, I liked everything I read because I could relate to pretty much everything she was saying – and HOW she was saying it. I find it interesting when you feel such a strong connection to someone via a book or a blog.
As I scrolled down, one particular sentence pierced my heart. A friend of Amy’s told her that she heard the Lord ‘whisper’ this to her: “Your opinion blocks My revelation – God” I seriously read this sentence over and over again. It was an ‘A-ha!’ moment for me -meant for this very day.
Perhaps it means something else to you, or maybe nothing at all, but the first thing that popped into my mind was my opinion of a few people with whom I have really struggled with – thankfully, only within my own mind. I hate it when those negative thoughts consume me – that’s exactly why I took a break from Facebook. I felt myself turning into something that I didn’t want to be – all because of THOSE few people. Am I alone? How about you? Do you have people in your life (friends, family, coworkers, fellow bloggers?) you avoid because they are so….. annoying – like the sound of fingernails scraping a chalkboard? Perhaps they make you feel unworthy. You know, like you could never measure up to their standards or ‘group’ of friends.
The more I thought about that statement, the more I began to question myself and my strong opinions of others. Who am I? What qualifies ME to judge someone’s character? Where was this all coming from, anyway?
Then came the revelation – I had allowed jealousy, the trap of comparison, and lies to cloud my view and embrace me. The problem really wasn’t THOSE people at all – it was me. My focus. My heart.
Then came conviction….I realized I wasn’t loving others like I thought I was, and the thing is – God has plenty to say about judging and loving others…
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 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.” Matthew 7: 1-5
“It says,” he replied, “that you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.” Luke 10:27
“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:19-21
Sometimes it’s a challenge to even try to love others, but I am reminded of how blessed I am to be loved by God – even though he truly knows all of my thoughts, motives, doubts and imperfections. He knows it all, yet he continues to love me….and you.
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