If you ask God to show you your flaws- he will.
On Sunday, August 20, I began a seven day journey of self evaluation and correction. My intent was to share with readers what I discovered about me.
I wrote one post that has yet to be published and jotted some incomplete thoughts in my private journal. This morning, day 5, I realize some very serious character flaws.
Romans 3:23-28 (KJV)
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
I think it was on day 3, I was told I had a vindictive nature! Not me! I insisted, demanded that the speaker correct himself, he did not. What he said was: none of us are perfect and all of us have some vindictiveness in us.
Romans 12:19 (KJV)
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
I have done petty things to get back at people who have irritated me. I take pride in being nice to people who I choose to be nice to yet justify not helping others. Is this vindictive? It was an attitude of self-righteousness, as nice of a person I try to be, I realize I do have an ugly side.
On Day 3 I had to admit that I had unresolved anger, resentment based on rejection. I thought I had resolved those issues, and to some extent I have but there were some unresolved things that came to mind.
Ephesians 4:26-29 (KJV)
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
I was talking to an unbeliever and the words that came out of my mouth was unexpected- “corrupt communication”.
Matthew 12:34 (KJV)
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
In four days I discovered that I had: a vindictive attitude, unresolved hurts from childhood rejection which manifested as anger, and fear.
My body is not responding as it used to, rheumatoid arthritis can be a beast. It is one of the reasons why I decided to take 7 days to examine myself. I need to eat right, exercise and focus more on my relationship with God than my circumstances here on earth. I lack the motivation to do the right thing.
Romans 7:22-25 (KJV)
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Yesterday, I was reminded of the blessings of God. I watched part one of a 2 part Bible study: BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT- Pastor Livingston I am Baptized in the Holy Spirit and I do pray in an unknown tongue. The message reminded me that I have help. God knows my flaws and because I asked Him to show them to me He did. The Apostle Paul asked: “who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24. The answer is Jesus, Jesus has delivered me from this body.
Everyday I must choose to be lead by the Holy Spirit because everyday Satan will try to lead me astray.
John 10:10 (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Galatians 5:16 (KJV)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
I have gone before the throne of grace seeking His forgiveness for the things that I said. When the harsh words were spoken earlier this week I corrected myself before the end of the conversation.
Pastor Livingston, in his teaching, reminded me that I am to live God glory, so I shall.
Finally, part of my problem was focusing to much on the things of this world. It bothers me that Christians put so much confidence in politicians. It bothers me that we tolerate what should be intolerable. I know evil exist but God is greater. His mercies, God’s, are forever and this my soul knows very well.
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
written by Marsha L Floyd
Thursday, August 24, 2023, 9:10AM
