Have you ever found yourself:
1. Worried about something that didn’t happen?
2 Unable to let go of the past so you stayed stuck in the land of “…but remember when” instead of the land of “…let’s try this again”?
3. Convinced others were using you because you’re always giving more than you get?
4. Stuck with a heart full of anger from those who have wronged you?
5. Ready to stop doing more than is asked of you because you didn’t get the promotion you wanted or your boss treated you a certain way?
As I pondered those questions, I felt they all came down to 5 words: “It’s not me, it’s you!”
Those 5 words really can be summed up in one word: self-righteousness.
We live in a world that teaches us to look out for number 1. We are bombarded with messages to, “Put yourself first”.
There’s a problem with that.
We weren’t called to put ourselves first. We were called to put God first.
**** Matthew 6:33 ****
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
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When you say the words, “It’s not me, it’s you…” go ahead and add “God” at the end of the sentence.
I know you want to add the name of someone else, but the reality is, God designs our lives. God allows us to grow through trials and tribulations. God has called us to model grace, forgiveness, patience … and trust in Him.
I have pondered that thought a lot recently as it relates to various circumstances.
After more than a decade together, my husband could have easily left me more than once in our marriage if he had wanted to and said, “It’s not me, it’s Tina.” He could have given a laundry list of reasons why.
But He had something stronger. He had faith in God. He wasn’t about to say, “It’s not me, it’s God. God matched me with the wrong person, so I’m going to get a divorce and go find the person He was supposed to match me with.”
I once worked with a coworker who received a promotion. His ideas were amazing and he received an opportunity to let them shine. But the ideas he was given to cultivate died when he felt he had been surpassed for the next promotion by someone who in his eyes was “less qualified”. He quit showing up for work with a strong work ethic, and his projects quit moving forward.
His excuse for finally leaving, “It’s not me, it’s you God.” He didn’t say God, but he walked out on some amazing opportunities to finish projects that would have not only helped people grow … they had the opportunity to help people grow to know Christ. He just didn’t see the opportunities through his hurt ego. All he could see was the promotion he didn’t receive, not the reason why God still needed him in the other position.
When you don’t have complete faith in God, you place your hope in the wrong thing.
**** Proverbs 10:28 ****
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
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Self-righteousness is a pride problem. It creates a critical spirit instead of a spirit enlightened by Christ.
It makes you judgemental, robs you of the opportunity to forgive others or to ask for forgiveness from others.
It forces you to see the world as “good and bad” or “me and you” or “right and wrong”. You find yourself constantly in defense mode because you have to defend your pride above all else.
At the end of the day, walking in self-righteousness is a path to disappointment, turmoil, and failure.
I read this recently. There are two types of people in this world.
1. Those who know they are imperfect.
2. Those who don’t know they are imperfect.
Our successes in life all come down to God’s grace, but guess what, so do the things we think are failures. Tribulations draw us closer to God, teach us lessons, and prepare us for the next success down the road. The problem is, we spend so much of our time stuck in pride that instead of allowing God to prepare us for victory, we ask, “Why me?” Worse yet, we spend so much time basking in the glory of our accomplishments that we forget to give God the glory for all we have achieved.
**** Romans 12:12 ****
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; faithful in prayer.
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When you have total confidence in God, you are free from worry, fear, anger, frustration, and disappointment. You have a heart full of gratitude. You are able to take off your golden coat of self-righteousness and replace it with a robe of righteousness in Christ.
**** Job 11:13-18 ****
Yet if you devote your heart to Him and stretch out your hands to Him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
****
The next time you find yourself:
1. Worried about something that didn’t happen … thank God for the bigger thing He has planned for your future that you cannot yet see.
2 Unable to let go of the past … ask God to turn your heart around and give you grace to enjoy the possibilities of a new future.
3. Convinced others are using you … thank God for the blessings He has given you to be able to serve others without receiving anything in return.
4. Stuck with a heart full of anger from those who have wronged you … ask God to come into your heart and give you the blessing of forgiveness.
5. Ready to stop doing more than is asked of you … remember God placed you in a circle of influence to fulfill a purpose.
If you’re not sure where to start, pray:
“God, before I get out of bed this morning, I am handing my heart over to you. Guide my emotions, my thoughts and my actions so I may fulfill my purpose today in a way that shows your love, your grace, and your mercy to others.”
