Self-Awareness
John 3:20-21 – “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
So, I was reading this scripture during my quiet time, and it immediately brought to mind an individual in my life about whom I have been quite concerned. Some questionable things have recently come to light, and I wrote an entire little journal entry all about her and her transgressions. However, when I turned from my writings to continue reading, Matthew 7:3-5—the scripture about the plank in one’s own eye—came to mind. So, I gave the scripture above a second read and looked inward this time, reminding myself that there are still some dark and dusty corners in my own life that I have not been quick to shed light on. In doing so, God revealed to me some areas of growth that needed my attention more than did the shortcomings of any other individual.
He particularly brought to mind some of the challenges that I experienced in my transition into married life. My husband and I have been married for a whopping six months now 😁, and while we are exceptionally open with each other, I know that there are things that I do that he doesn’t love (if you can believe that! 😳). Initially, when I discovered these little irritants, I would go out of my way to avoid conflict by…you know…relieving him of the burden of…um…knowing about them (Yikes!). I know! I know! That can never end well! It took about a month for me to stop hiding from him the little superfluous purchases here and there, my trips to Wendy’s for unhealthy fare, and my admittedly less than ideal snacking habits. Then, too, I had to remind myself of the notion that if I have to hide what I’m doing from my husband (or anyone close to me for that matter), I probably shouldn’t be doing it.
This is just one of the many areas of growth in my life. I would be here forever if I tried to list them all, because I have my own nice little share of flaws and faults. This passage was a great reminder that it really is easier to focus on others’ shortcomings than it is to acknowledge our own. No one is perfect, and we do ourselves and those around us a disservice when we fail to realize that we all have room to grow. Our job is not to condemn others for their faults (although sometimes, God does call us to aid in His correction), but rather to focus on acknowledging and seeking God’s help in correcting our own areas of weakness so that we are better prepared to serve as a vessel for God’s love, His light, His acceptance, and His forgiveness. (See my previous post on Forgiveness)
Matthew 7:3-4 – 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Shine Your Light!
Thoughts, reactions, or testimonies? Leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!
Picture 1: Obtained from http://karenhalliburton.com/3-Ways-Leaders-Become-SelfAware-Helping-Leaders-Grow.html
Picture 2: Obtained from https://humblewalk.wordpress.com/2013/04/16/the-plank-in-my-eye/
Exposed: Everything is Illuminated 