PRAYER TO GIVE UP SELF-JUSTIFICATION FRO POOR CHOICES DURING THIS PANDEMIC
GIVING UP SELF-JUSTIFICATION
It’s interesting to watch the reaction of people who have decided NOT to heed the public health warnings to continue with 2 meter physical distancing, to not gather in large groups, to wear a mask in certain situations etc. When their behaviour is challenged they seem quick to try to justify themselves. There are all sort of comments that speak about “The virus isn’t real or isn’t that bad so it doesn’t matter.” “I’m not in an at risk group.” “All the illness is in the long term care facilities.” “The isolation is worse than the disease.” “I don’t have symptoms and I haven’t tested positive.” The list goes on.
We often do the same thing with other poor life habits. When our behaviour is challenged, we are quick to try to justify ourselves. If we are challenged for doing wrong, we justify it by saying, “This is just the way I am.” We justify anger by saying “He or she made me mad.” We justify being rude by saying “I just speak my mind.” Sometimes we are unwilling to see the exact nature of our wrongs. we often make excuses or even lie to others after failing to fulfill the commitments we made. We became experts at making up believable excuses and even justified lying to ourselves. Self-justification is rooted in our thinking we are better human beings than we truly are. It’s time to admit that wrong is wrong, and that we are guilty of wrong thinking and wrong behaviour.
Here’s God’s invitation today to us:
I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this.
Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed
and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow.
Isaiah 1:18 ERV
So, let’s bring ourselves to God today, trusting Him to show us reality from His point of view and giving us the humility to accept this truth spoken to us from His loving heart.
Heavenly Father, we want to see ourselves as You see us, as we truly are. We want to know truth and to give up justifying wrong attitudes or behaviours. We want our thoughts and our motives to no longer be held captive to self-justification.
Forgive us Lord for the narrowmindedness of seeing only our own needs and failing to take the needs of others more vulnerable than ourselves into consideration as we adjust not only our behaviour in relation to COVID-19, but also in dealing with individuals who are strugglers or who have habits or personalities that different than ours that require more change and more inconveniencing of us than we want to give in a moment.
We want our thoughts, words, and actions to be consistent with what we say about being Your followers and being those who are willing to serve. It’s too easy to know that we are to seek You first and Your kingdom but still act differently in pursuit of our own interests. Forgive us Lord. Help us to become more like You.
We also want to acknowledge all that You’ve given us and pray for grace and wisdom to use the opportunities and talents that we have. Help us to not justify sloppiness or laziness or fear by pretending our potential and resources are less than what they are. You’ve told us that when much is given, much is required. We want to be faithful servants of Yours today, not those who have to stand before You at the end of the day looking for excuses for our poor choices.
Lord, would You help all of us make the right choices to protect ourselves and others from this virus as much as possible, and do things as safely as possible. May this be one expression of Your heart when You said that greater love has no one than a person lay down their life for their friends and that we would be Your friends
It’s interesting to watch the reaction of people who have decided NOT to heed the public health warnings to continue with 2 meter physical distancing, to not gather in large groups, to wear a mask in certain situations etc. When their behaviour is challenged they seem quick to try to justify themselves. There are all sort of comments that speak about “The virus isn’t real or isn’t that bad so it doesn’t matter.” “I’m not in an at risk group.” “All the illness is in the long term care facilities.” “The isolation is worse than the disease.” “I don’t have symptoms and I haven’t tested positive.” The list goes on.
We often do the same thing with other poor life habits. When our behaviour is challenged, we are quick to try to justify ourselves. If we are challenged for doing wrong, we justify it by saying, “This is just the way I am.” We justify anger by saying “He or she made me mad.” We justify being rude by saying “I just speak my mind.” Sometimes we are unwilling to see the exact nature of our wrongs. we often make excuses or even lie to others after failing to fulfill the commitments we made. We became experts at making up believable excuses and even justified lying to ourselves. Self-justification is rooted in our thinking we are better human beings than we truly are. It’s time to admit that wrong is wrong, and that we are guilty of wrong thinking and wrong behaviour.
Suppose we claim we are without sin.
Then we are fooling ourselves.
The truth is not in us. But God is faithful and fair.
If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins.
He will forgive every wrong thing
we have done. He will make us pure.
1 John 1:8-9
Here’s God’s invitation today to us:
I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this.
Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed
and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow.
Isaiah 1:18 ERV
God has given me a special gift, and that is why I have something
to say to each one of you. Don’t think that you are better than
you really are. You must see yourself just as you are.
Decide what you are by the faith God has given each of us.
Romans 12:3
So, let’s bring ourselves to God today, trusting Him to show us reality from His point of view and giving us the humility to accept this truth spoken to us from His loving heart.
Heavenly Father, we want to see ourselves as You see us, as we truly are. We want to know truth and to give up justifying wrong attitudes or behaviours. We want our thoughts and our motives to no longer be held captive to self-justification.
Forgive us Lord for the narrowmindedness of seeing only our own needs and failing to take the needs of others more vulnerable than ourselves into consideration as we adjust not only our behaviour in relation to COVID-19, but also in dealing with individuals who are strugglers or who have habits or personalities that different than ours that require more change and more inconveniencing of us than we want to give in a moment.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
We want our thoughts, words, and actions to be consistent with what we say about being Your followers and being those who are willing to serve. It’s too easy to know that we are to seek You first and Your kingdom but still act differently in pursuit of our own interests. Forgive us Lord. Help us to become more like You.
If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better.
Luke 12:48
We also want to acknowledge all that You’ve given us and pray for grace and wisdom to use the opportunities and talents that we have. Help us to not justify sloppiness or laziness or fear by pretending our potential and resources are less than what they are. You’ve told us that when much is given, much is required. We want to be faithful servants of Yours today, not those who have to stand before You at the end of the day looking for excuses for our poor choices.
Lord, would You help all of us make the right choices to protect ourselves and others from this virus as much as possible, and do things as safely as possible. May this be one expression of Your heart when You said that greater love has no one than a person lay down their life for their friends and that we would be Your friends
This is My commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this,
than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you..
John 15:12-14
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