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In Hope

Self-examination

Thursday September 24, 2020

To examine ourselves is to do just that – examine ourselves.  It's so easy to compare ourselves and examine ourselves in light of what others are doing or not doing. God, however,  wants to free us to live in the truth of who we are and where we need His grace and help to grow and get better.  The focus on any self-examination has to be squarely focused on ourselves and only ourselves.

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.  (Galatians 6:4 NLT)

When we examine ourselves it is important to make a judgment both on what is good and what is harmful.  Judgment is not about condemning and accusing.  A healthy self-examination is best described as taking an inventory - whether it is the Step 4 version or the daily Step 10 format.  There are some things we should ditch immediately.  Other things we need to hold fast to and not let go of, no matter how challenged we feel.  There are some things in life that we need to bring before God and mature friends and have them help us observe, maybe over time, whether these things are harmful or helpful for us. 

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.  (Romans 12:3b, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 NLT


 One of the great benefits of living in conscious contact with God is that the God who knows us best and  loves us most, is able to show us our hearts in the manner and time in which He knows things need dealing with, particularly those things deep inside us that we're not conscious of but which lead us to fail over and over again. 

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.  (Psalm 19:12-13 NLT)



Prayer:  Loving God, help me today to see myself as You see me.  Give me a willing heart to admit where my shortcomings lie and to acknowledge the gifts that you’ve given me.  Grant me the humility I need to learn from You and from others who are mature in their walk with You.  Point out anything in me that needs to change. Amen

©2020 Partners in Hope 
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

Audio for Self-examination

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