Self Reflection: Humility

[Ceptor]

Some things God has put on my heart and that I've been seeing amongst Christians and even within myself recently that have been weighing on my spirit.

Are we truly being as Jesus would have us be?

How can we self-reflect and not deceive ourselves concerning our actions, thoughts, and perceptions of our brothers and sisters?

If we don't see ourselves and others correctly by the light of Jesus who is the image of perfection as God, we could walk ourselves into a deception as great as the one told to Eve in the garden.

This thread is also in large part started in hopes that I may gain new understandings from things God has taught others who are willing to share their views.

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

Some things God has put on my heart and that I've been seeing amongst Christians and even within myself recently that have been weighing on my spirit.

Are we truly being as Jesus would have us be?

How can we self-reflect and not deceive ourselves concerning our actions, thoughts, and perceptions of our brothers and sisters?

If we don't see ourselves and others correctly by the light of Jesus who is the image of perfection as God, we could walk ourselves into a deception as great as the one told to Eve in the garden.

This thread is also in large part started in hopes that I may gain new understandings from things God has taught others who are willing to share their views.

Ceptor Hello,
I agree with you on this. I walk in Love and Forgiveness. If I bump heads with a brother in here it does not take root and I dont get offended and would go buy them dinner. However I still need perfecting in this area and always will for none of us will ever reach the height and depth of Christ in us that is possible. With that said I must also say that I am struggling in an area where nothing seems to remove the nagging eating at me feeling. It is in the area in which far to many of the brethren treat and speak His most Holy written Word. The integrity there is as a cheating spouse. It eats away at me. I mean it hurts seeing this happen over and over and over again just as the hurt of a cheating spouse.

This is where I seem to be stuck these days. So I wonder if this eats at me like this - how does it come back unto Him ?
Blessings my Friend
James

 

[Ceptor]

The constant nagging / eating at you I certainly understand. I get it because I have that problem as well.

Some of the things that seem to help me are starting new each day. If I woke up as a new baby, I would have nothing, but I have a new day today, and I have much more than a newborn. I can be free in this, in that God provides every day, and I can start with more wisdom each new beginning. It leaves me more thankful and free to experience God's life He has given me, instead of trying to control it and those around me.

Another thing that helps me, is when I'm watching abuse, and/or witnessing betrayal, evil of any kind such as what you are referring to... is remembering God is right here with me seeing and hearing everything I do. I close my eyes, imagine Jesus is sitting somewhere in the room or nearby in some way. As I listen I focus on Him, and usually I get a small voice or vision of Him smiling or motioning to me "I've got this. Don't worry."

I'm very overprotective, and have seen myself be more of a detriment than a help due to it at times. Often when I leave it to God and pray, He solves it. I don't think we should always be spectators only, but I think more often than not that prayer is more powerful than fury or bold conflict.


These things help, but I'm always looking for different perspectives / scriptures to do better. To me there is no "good enough" for the person that gave me life, saved me from my crimes against Him, and is my best friend. Worship is doing the best I can.


And in feeling this way, I know I need more to be more humble. Humility is more than action, like Jesus teaches, it is more than not murdering - it is not even thinking mean, angry, hateful thoughts about your brothers or sisters.

Humility is a mindset, and I know I'm not viewing things correctly yet. May be better than I was, obviously thanks to Jesus. It would be more pleasing to God if all of my thoughts were good toward my brothers and sisters. But I know I need to become less as John the Baptist said.

 

[amadeus2]

Yes, "humilty is a mindset". It is having the mind of Christ. Who can measure up?

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" Rom 3:10

But, let us not despair and grow weary in our well doing. The promise is still before us even if sometimes it seems so unclear. Still we are seeing through the darkened glass, but we are seeing!

We are not walking toward only the things that we are able to see, but toward things that we cannot see. We are walking by faith.

 

[Brad Huber]

Are you willing to suffer Ceptor? Truly willing to TRULY suffer? For I tell you that suffering eventually breaks the proud heart and humbles us to be the vessel that God can use for greater purpose. I once prayed for wisdom and humility, and the Holy Spirit spoke to me in my mind, "Are you willing to suffer?". And like that often boastful fisherman Peter, I responded, "YES, Lord, anything for greater wisdom and a humble spirit (for I was anything but humble at the time)." And the Holy Spirit responded in my mind "Then you shall be humbled and learn true wisdom through it."

I was kinda worried after that, and indeed I did suffer some, but only for awhile, and I can tell you that wisdom without a humble contrite heart will lead to great sadness.

 

[Ceptor]

Ecclesiastes 1:18
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Oddly enough, I'm suffering greatly right now, being belittled by people who have little of themselves save selfishness. I suffer very much daily. I witness abuse of others daily. I endure physical pain daily. There are many suffering daily on different levels, some more than most could imagine.

I don't want to seem to puff myself up, but instead mention it as it is something I'm very much accustom to and God has blessed me with wisdom through pain. I hate pain, but I asked God for wisdom and I get a heaping dose of both pain and mercy daily. I have learned, the greater the curse, the greater the blessing.

In regarding the seeming self-elevation of the words I spoke, the suffering is much due to shame as well, at least from the first person viewpoint, though those details are between me and my Life Giver. There is nothing for me to boast of whatsoever.

The more humility and pain I endure, the larger the dose He gives me the next time. It has become apparent to me that no matter how far I think I have come, there is a never ending stairway of levels and God will always have more to teach, more growing to give, more strength to gain. It becomes impossible to bear, until you focus on Christ, and only then does the strength come. Often we become distracted and this is when weakness slips in, distracted by the pain. But the deeper into the abyss Jesus carries me, the more I learn to keep my eyes fixed on Him regardless the evils and torments surrounding me or inflicted on me. Peter knows what happens when the eyes are taken off of our God.

Wisdom will always bring sadness, but God has a greater purpose in it than our imagination can behold. Jesus asked for another way if it could be. I find myself doing this often, but I always end the words leaving my mouth with "...your will be done, glorify yourself Father."

 

[Brad Huber]

Suffering always seems to last an eternity. But I tell you that many years of it is but a short while ... the joy and peace you can find in the ensuing wisdom awakens you to the life you were meant to live. And I pray none would throw themselves into suffering for the sake of wisdom, for first of all, there is no wisdom in seeking suffering. If you desire wisdom and humilty, and are willing to suffer to find it, the Lord will allow it in only the amounts you are able to bear. And we all can bear more than we think.

 

[Ceptor]

I couldn't have said it better myself Brad.

 

[Dave M]

excellent post's it reminds of a recent sermon I was listening to by Randy Alcorn, he told everyone to write down the very worst most horrible experiences in their life on one side of a card, then he told everyone to flip the card over and write down the very best and most memorable moments in ones life. He then said most would see the direct relationship the best things that ever happened are a direct or indirect result of the worst things that have happened, I can say when I do the card test it is absolutely true for me.

Romans 8-28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


Ephesians 1:11
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

 

[Ceptor]

I'm glad you are getting good things from the thread.

Though I know the scriptures as general principles from reading them so often, I've as yet to memorize them verbatim and because I haven't it's hard to recall them as if the list were easily reviewed in my mind.

Jesus often brings passages I know of to mind and I have to (sad to admit) look them up for verbatim quoting. I know the teachings well, and even generally where to find them. I have a few big key verses etched in stone, a short list in my view.. but nothing as substantial as I should. There are other reasons for this, but again, that's personal problem stuff.

I'm wondering if some of you guys that know the scriptures well, such as recalling them at will by subject, per purpose... Could help me come up with a list of verses for Christ-likeness to use as a mirror for our hearts. A pattern with solid scripture as the foundation. A reflection for righteousness, to help be more more like Jesus.

I like simplifying things for myself and especially for new Christians. Though I think it will benefit everyone truly, whether drinking milk or eating meat.

I'm sure I could manage to create one, especially with the Holy Spirit guiding me. But my thought is... isn't the body of Christ more powerful and effective when it works together?

You guys are a great blessing to me, and I would love to see a simple blueprint - a solid set of scriptures that can be easily fit in before or after a daily Bible study.. or at the end of a busy day if there isn't really time and you are so exhausted you can't walk or think. I believe it could really aid anyone in keeping their focus on Jesus, His guidance, and a way to consider ourselves and whether we are being what we know is pleasing to God.

I'm going to work on it regardless, but I just know there is a lot of wisdom here, and know God would work through you guys.

Any input would be awesome.

 

[Ceptor]

Just so this is clear. Even if no one else wants to figure out the best verses to compile for a small business card like carrying aid.. I do! :laugh:

So if you know a verse that might help, throw the bone to a dog? :whistle

A whole t-bone steak wouldn't be bad either though. Where is Brighthouse? That man is a walking Bible-cyclopedia! LOL

I'll pull my files out this afternoon. Gotta do some work. I think I have a sheet with a list of characteristics for a servant of Christ.

To give you guys a little piece of inside info on me, this is my favorite verse. No matter what happens it's always been, and likely always will be at the top of my list:

2 Timothy 2:3-4
3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

 

[amadeus2]

Ceptor, what works well for one person may not work at all for another. God recognizes this and uses in each of us, as we allow Him to, as the need arises as He chooses. As an old saying has it, God looks not to our ability but to our availability.

Memorizing scripture is a good thing, but it is hardly necessary for every person. I once pursued it believing I would get the whole thing (God's thing) down pat after a while. It did not work. I lapsed into worse things and backslid badly. When I was allowed (by God) to come back things were never the same. My brain was burnt out. To this day I cannot quote a verse verbatim that is more than a few words long.

God has taken me in a measure in some areas into greater things, but never according to that pathway that I had previously convinced myself to be the right one.

Now sometimes God gives me an answer which helps someone, but He has made certain that for me to proceed, I have to give Him the glory. The pharisees of old oft times worked hard in the things of God superficially with the purpose of receiving glory to themselves. This is something that was not only prevalent in those Pharisees of old, but too often also in us more recent Christians.

The answer that God gave to me is nothing new. Bottom starting: Start at the bottom and then let God lift you up as He sees fit. Be careful about climbing yourself unless God has told you to climb. Jesus expressed it well:

"When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee." Luke

For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" Luke 14:8-11

Every day, every hour, every moment, every situation, always start at the bottom and when there is time or room or direction go on from there.

"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jerem 10:23

 

[Ceptor]

Thank you Amadeus.

 

[Bendito]

Some things God has put on my heart and that I've been seeing amongst Christians and even within myself recently that have been weighing on my spirit.

Are we truly being as Jesus would have us be?

How can we self-reflect and not deceive ourselves concerning our actions, thoughts, and perceptions of our brothers and sisters?

If we don't see ourselves and others correctly by the light of Jesus who is the image of perfection as God, we could walk ourselves into a deception as great as the one told to Eve in the garden.

This thread is also in large part started in hopes that I may gain new understandings from things God has taught others who are willing to share their views.

I'm really proud of the way I've become so humble...:laugh:

I heard a young Christian say that when I first got saved..poor guy. I'll bet he was sooo disappointed...

 

[Brad Huber]

I'm really proud of the way I've become so humble...:laugh:

I heard a young Christian say that when I first got saved..poor guy. I'll bet he was sooo disappointed...

He was probably correct but just said it wrong. He probably meant that he was much more humble than he used to be, but the way he said it does sound funny.