Obsessed Much?


The other day someone asked me if I was still writing my blog. It brought a few thoughts to mind. One was that it really had been awhile since I have posted something. Another thought was, wow, cool, people were actually reading my posts and noticing when I wasn't writing. I am humbly thankful for anyone of you who take the time to read anything I share and sincerely hope that they do reach some of you, provoke thought and make a positive impact. Now, with all that being said, I think it is a good segue into what I am actually feeling moved to speak on, don't cringe, but just want to talk a little about...humility. Not about being humiliated but about being more humble. This is a word I would love to be affiliated with, but one area I constantly find myself challenged with. I am not a person who likes a lot of attention and prefer to be behind the scenes, which sometimes in my mind takes away the obvious threats about thinking too highly of myself, but thinking too highly of ourselves is surprisingly not the only thief of our Humility. The following line from my Bible Study today (by Beth Moore) popped right out at me and made me highlight it. It said: We don't have to think highly of ourselves to think obsessively of ourselves. Say what?!! If we are always even thinking badly of ourselves we still might be thinking of ourselves too much and this is really no better than thinking better of yourself. Yikes!! My Pastor really hit on this in his message on Legalism today. He reminded us that God's love for us is unmoving. We screw up, He doesn't love us any less. We are doing amazing things in our life, He doesn't love us any more for that. His love never changes and this is so amazing and beautiful but can also be a hard concept for those who think they have to, or even could "earn" God's love. I actually hear somewhat often, people talking a lot about how badly things are for them and really zoned in on their problems in life and believe me, been there, done that, a lot, still a daily struggle sometimes and something I am quite certain to continue to battle with. I am the biggest baby when I am in pain or even discomfort. I also, by no means, want to undermine anyone else's pain or suffering, but please hear me out. Sometimes we are preaching to the choir with our complaints. When you are constantly whining to others about your troubles and how the world is against you, do you stop to think the person you are laying your burdens on, could also be struggling? I would guess, you might not always be alone in your suffering even if you are feeling alone. We should always first bring these concerns to God and pray that He will help us through it and of course we can confide in a trusted loved one, but I think it really could be beneficial to take ourselves out of the center of all our thoughts, perhaps with a little help from some prayer and maybe this verse from Romans 12:3 NIV- For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

May you realize that you are so loved by God no matter what. That His love for you never changes and may you fully know the sufficiency of His grace.

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