Prayerfully Taking Account Of Ourselves

TAKING ACCOUNT OF OURSELVES

We spoke yesterday about being people who wanted to live a lifestyle of forgiveness even as God has blessed us. 

I thought it would be good for us today to consider the priority God gives us to give an account of ourselves to Him rather than spending time and attention passing judgment on others.

Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.  Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.  Romans 14:12-13

We are all so ready to tear into someone for doing something wrong.  We have long memories of injuries done to us.  At the same time we are often quite slow to observe how our own motives and behaviours miss the mark as well. This practical reminder from God’s word gives us a moment to make an inventory of where our thinking and speaking and behaving.

We need to be focusing our attention on how we are living for God and doing what God requires of us rather than being busybodies about what others are or aren’t doing.

For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves.  If we live, it's to honor the Lord.  And if we die, it's to honor the Lord.  So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  Christ died and rose again for this very purpose - to be the Lord of both the living and the dead.  Romans 14:7-9

So, Heavenly Father, that’s what we want to do today.  We want to be people who live in grateful thanks and praise to You for the life You’ve given us, the blessings You pour into our lives day in and day out, and the positive life-giving lessons You teach us so we can not just survive in a day but thrive in doing good, and experiencing peace and joy.  What more could we ask for than that?

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.  Romans 14:19

We long this making of peace and mutual building up to not only be our experience but also to be the experience of our family, our loved ones, our neighbours, even the strangers among us.  Show us today what actions we can take that lead to this.

We need help most when someone who is weak is doing stupid around us.  It’s easy to have opinions and arguments about what and why they did or said.  Keep us from that, we pray.  It’s usually a waste of time and we’d like to give ourselves to what is positive and life-giving rather than what is destructive and life-destroying.

So today, help us to consciously choose to live to honour You, encourage others, learn from others, and live in goodness, peace, and joy.  Amen

Goodness, peace, and joy – sounds like something lovely to give ourselves to today, wouldn’t you say?  Have a great day doing so.