By Andrea Merrell
Search me, O God,
and know my heart;
test me and know
my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that
offends you,
and lead me along
the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139:23-24
NLT
I have a couple of friends who examine my every flaw. As soon as they see me, they give me the dreaded once-over. That’s when I know they're critiquing my hair, make-up, choice of clothes, and the pimple on my chin.
It’s like being under a magnifying glass. Is it uncomfortable? Yes. Frustrating? Absolutely. But I love these people, so I’ve learned to deal with
it—even though I want to tell them to give me a break and stop scrutinizing me.There have been a few times in my life when I wanted to tell
God the same thing, but without His loving examination and direction, I would
never be able to change, move forward, and grow spiritually.
When we get to the point where we can be open and honest about
our faults and weaknesses, we can bring them to the Lord and be confident that
He will help us overcome them.
Man looks on the outward appearance, but God is more concerned
with our heart. My friends can examine and critique me all they want, but it’s
only God’s opinion that really counts.
The next time you feel as if someone is judging you from the
outside, know that God sees what’s in your heart.
Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and photostock.
Love your vulnerable sharing and wisdom, Andrea. So true! All the way back to childhood when I thought my nose was too big and it was the only thing people noticed. And I concluded they were criticizing me! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy. So good to hear from you. Thank you for your comment. Blessings! :)
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