Insignificance is Bliss...

Recently, I have been reading about and thinking about why people become offended, or bitter, and often end up hurting themselves and others by letting their personal feelings get the better of them.  While I have never quite found myself in these exact situations, there are many other situations where one can see the results of their own mistakes and what caused them to react in a certain way.  In this case, Yoda's sage aphorism is suddenly crystal clear in it's meaning. "Emotions cloud judgement." 
While it is fine to be emotional, it is NEVER okay to let emotions control actions. There is this funny thing called pride, and pride comes from basically one thing:

Pride takes root and begins to grow when we start to take ourselves seriously. 
First of all, let me clarify: Taking ourselves seriously means we begin to think that our life, our experiences, our thoughts, actions, knowledge and our opinions- actually matter. Tough luck!  Guess what? I am not important.  To think that my opinions and knowledge matters to other people is to commit a gross mistake: because they don't.  Even if I'm right, it probably won't really matter all that much to others.  I used to think that opinions were dangerous- and I still think that; one should always be on the side of truth- but I have discovered that one can have their own opinions about things so long as one is completely aware that it is their personal opinion only and has absolutely no importance to others at all.  Opinions should never be taken seriously- those of others' and most of all, your own.


It's a neat thing, really, making tiny discoveries like this, not to inflate my own knowledge, but simply to be aware of small things that I can do to be sure that pride never takes hold.  I must "apply my heart to wisdom."  After all, isn't that what we're supposed to do? 


"I must decrease, so that He might increase."


Is this not true?  And I have discovered that every time I have ever said something I regretted, it was because I actually thought I was worth something!!  I actually thought my opinion mattered!  That it was important!  That I was important.  And when that happens, of course I am always less aware, or not aware at all, of Christ!  He decreased because I increased and so of course I would do something I regretted!

I forgot that I was insignificant.  I was made for the glory of God.  So were you.  So were we all.  Wouldn't it makes sense that we can glorify Him and receive that greater joy and peace only if we are not aware of ourselves?


And sometimes, at the end of the day, I want to give a great sigh, because in my heart, I know that I didn't live today for Him.  I know that there was still far too much of myself. 
Perhaps sometimes you are aware of it too.
But simply being aware of it is a start.
It's always the best day.  At least you know.  At least I know.
And once we know what the problem is, then comes the glorious part:


We have to understand that we can't fix it. I can't change myself. I can't make me become a better person.  Only Jesus can.  And so, I must believe.  I know the truth: I am a  flawed, imperfect, sinful human being. He knows the truth to.  All He is looking for is Faith.


And so, at the end of the day, instead of giving that great sigh, saying "Boy, I failed today," I say,


"I believe Jesus Christ."


I believe. 


Say it.  Do it.  Live it.  Simply having it in my heart, in your heart, will be enough.  Be aware of it.


Let Him do the rest.


Because once it is in our hearts, He can begin to work, and we will see the fruits of HIS labors, in our actions, in our words, in our thoughts. 

Believe. 

~KnightRanger :)

~

Believe in your convictions and speak what you will, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.