Question... is it difficult, almost impossible, to believe the good things people say about you and so easy, incredibly easy to believe the bad things people say?
What do you do when you have been given a cross to bear? Big or small, what do you do? Keep it? Hold it tight? Own it? Hoist the cross over our shoulder and drag it around until we finally listen? When you do, it's exhausting. Even horrible. It weakens us. That cross will kick your butt with both of its feet. BUT, it's the mental, emotional, and spiritual exercise from hauling that cross around that makes you stronger. It's precisely that strength, the cross builds, that prepares you to trust God, to follow Him, to have faith even when faith doesn't make sense.
What do you do when you have been given a cross to bear? Big or small, what do you do? Keep it? Hold it tight? Own it? Hoist the cross over our shoulder and drag it around until we finally listen? When you do, it's exhausting. Even horrible. It weakens us. That cross will kick your butt with both of its feet. BUT, it's the mental, emotional, and spiritual exercise from hauling that cross around that makes you stronger. It's precisely that strength, the cross builds, that prepares you to trust God, to follow Him, to have faith even when faith doesn't make sense.
The cross that has been handed to you, that accidental gift, will force you to examine your life. It will pursue you, suffocate you, smother you, and love you until you concede to examine... everything about you. It will force you to become aware… aware of you; your choices; your behavior; your priorities; your wants; your heart; your life. When you, or me, lead a self examined life, we discover that cross we carry is both our fault and not our fault. That’s right. It's both.
The Bible addresses this very issue. There are the sea and the waves. The waves are tossed around due to the ever changing wind. The wind represents ever changing opinions. The best illustration I can give is sports fans. The coach and players can go from losers to heroes to losers and back multiple times during one game. Coaches don't succumb to that pressure because if they did, they would have no strategy, no game plan... no identity.
Jesus speaks of building on sand versus solid rock. When the storm bores in on you, the sand disappears. The sand turns and runs when you need it the most. The sand has no strength. You find out there is no support. The sand is the community on which you depend in times of trouble. The community you thought cared for you is gone. It was all a mirage. Solid rock is Jesus Christ. He will not turn from you; He will not belittle you; He will not abandon you. He will be there when you call.
I learned, recently, when I depend on other people (friends, family, teachers, etc.) to make me feel good, to feel worthy, to feel valuable... that's my fault. Why do we, as Christ followers, depend on others to approve of us? To deem us worthy and good and cherished based on their subjective definition or opinion? Make no mistake, it’s our fault if we slip into a routine of craving accolades and praise to feel good; to feel valuable; to feel liked. It’s our fault when our priorities have been shuffled. It's our fault when our priorities were wrong to begin with. Finding our worth in other people's inconsistent and uninformed opinions and emotions never ends well. That rut will always drench you with negative thoughts that will push you, and your mother, down a flight of stairs if you let it.
However, joy is a choice. Make no mistake, those who like to demean, belittle, and disparage aren’t your issue. Those who like to hand out crosses need your misery. They thrive on your misery to elevate themselves at your expense. Do not let them dictate if your day is good or bad. Do not let them determine your choices. Limit their access to you... stop hanging out with them. Do something else. Serve others. Spend time with you. As hurtful and heavy as that cross feels, stop carrying it for them. Drop it.
Know Satan would rather you be depressed and rejected than confident and happy. Depressed and rejected Christians aren't good witnesses for Christ, they act more like Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh. Who wants to listen to that guy? Know you are good because of what you do for others. Know you are good because of what you pursue. Know you are good because of your heart. Know you are good and valuable and cherished because Jesus said so and He has proved it. Know you are good because... you know you, not because of what others say. When you know that, hang out with people that know it too.
The Bible addresses this very issue. There are the sea and the waves. The waves are tossed around due to the ever changing wind. The wind represents ever changing opinions. The best illustration I can give is sports fans. The coach and players can go from losers to heroes to losers and back multiple times during one game. Coaches don't succumb to that pressure because if they did, they would have no strategy, no game plan... no identity.
Jesus speaks of building on sand versus solid rock. When the storm bores in on you, the sand disappears. The sand turns and runs when you need it the most. The sand has no strength. You find out there is no support. The sand is the community on which you depend in times of trouble. The community you thought cared for you is gone. It was all a mirage. Solid rock is Jesus Christ. He will not turn from you; He will not belittle you; He will not abandon you. He will be there when you call.
I learned, recently, when I depend on other people (friends, family, teachers, etc.) to make me feel good, to feel worthy, to feel valuable... that's my fault. Why do we, as Christ followers, depend on others to approve of us? To deem us worthy and good and cherished based on their subjective definition or opinion? Make no mistake, it’s our fault if we slip into a routine of craving accolades and praise to feel good; to feel valuable; to feel liked. It’s our fault when our priorities have been shuffled. It's our fault when our priorities were wrong to begin with. Finding our worth in other people's inconsistent and uninformed opinions and emotions never ends well. That rut will always drench you with negative thoughts that will push you, and your mother, down a flight of stairs if you let it.
However, joy is a choice. Make no mistake, those who like to demean, belittle, and disparage aren’t your issue. Those who like to hand out crosses need your misery. They thrive on your misery to elevate themselves at your expense. Do not let them dictate if your day is good or bad. Do not let them determine your choices. Limit their access to you... stop hanging out with them. Do something else. Serve others. Spend time with you. As hurtful and heavy as that cross feels, stop carrying it for them. Drop it.
Know Satan would rather you be depressed and rejected than confident and happy. Depressed and rejected Christians aren't good witnesses for Christ, they act more like Eeyore from Winnie The Pooh. Who wants to listen to that guy? Know you are good because of what you do for others. Know you are good because of what you pursue. Know you are good because of your heart. Know you are good and valuable and cherished because Jesus said so and He has proved it. Know you are good because... you know you, not because of what others say. When you know that, hang out with people that know it too.
Per Joyce Meyer, "Remember, Friday comes before Sunday." The cross came before the glory. Once you learn to examine your life, you will be mentally stronger, emotionally stronger, and spiritually stronger. That strength produces confidence to trust in God’s Word and pursue God’s Will… when that happens not even Satan himself can stand in your way.
Have a good and godly day.
Have a good and godly day.
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