Self!
I love myself. I think I'm grand. When I go to movies, I hold my hand. I put my arm around my waist, And when I get fresh, I slap my face!
My mom used to recite this little rhyme when I was a little girl. Now that I think about it, it was probably meant to be a lesson for her children. Or maybe she was just trying to be funny. When I was a child, I thought of it as her theme song. Lol. My mom had been an only child and had problems in this area. Self. How easy it is to see in others! I often counsel folks who are in the midst of great adversity. If the world were to see their circumstances, they would say they were down on their luck. I'm sure by now that you know I don't believe in luck. Everything, and I mean everything is at the hand of God. But one of the traps that people fall into is that their trouble is all that they can think about. And even worse than that, it's all that they can talk about. After a little while, no one wants to be around them. As they recount their misfortune, over and over, they fill their own minds with so much negativity that they are buried alive in it.
Self. How easy it is to see in others! Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." God really does give us the cure for everything. So here I am, writing a blog that I consider to be a ministry to others. I began writing for God's eye alone as a way to sort my thoughts and offer counsel and comfort from the Bible to myself. The Lord not only helped me through my writing, but forced me to share with others. And I mean forced. What began as my lesson God turned into my ministry. And the whole thing was based on what God taught me. That I had no strength in my brokenness. That it had to be all Him. Big God! little me. I Must Decrease. And then, of course, my verse. 2 Corinthians 12:9:
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." And so, with all of that settled, what is my biggest battle today? Self. How difficult to see in ourselves!
The struggle is real. What Barbara wants, and how to make it happen. Trouble. Always! Philippians 2:21 - "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." After fifty years of knowing and loving Him. After all of the preaching and teaching that I've sat under. After all of the years of ministry to others. After all that I learned in wrestling with Him. After all that He's brought me through. It still comes down to self. Oh, the thought this morning of that glorified body, when I'll lay this struggle down. Lord, please help me to stay empty today. And for those of you reading, I truly covet your prayer.