"I" Did It Again
I laid in bed thinking about the day ahead. I groaned and instead of getting up I snuggled into my pillow. I had thought this was going to be a day of doing something fun. I’d planned for us to be out of the house. We’d talked about this over a week ago. Instead it was turning into the usual “stay around the house” Saturday.
Grumpy and frustrated I finally pushed myself to get up. I looked in the mirror, sighed and breathed a soft prayer, “Why am I in such a bad mood? Why can’t I just be ok with this?” Within a matter of a few seconds God made it clear to me. It quickly occurred to me that every thought that had been going through my head started with “I”.
I willed myself to redirected by thoughts, looking at the day from the perspective of my husband. My mood changed and my anxiety lifted.
When writing to the Church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul instructs the Philippians to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4
To the Galatians, Paul’s advice included the following, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:24
This is completely contrary to what is heard from society today. We are inundated with constant messages of do what feels rights, put oneself first, follow your own heart and so much more. This is not new, clearly the Christians in the first century heard the same messaging prompting the words above from Paul.
I wish I could say that the rest of the weekend was clear sailing. Unfortunately, “I” statements and thoughts popped up more than once. Each time I needed to intentionally realign my thoughts to realign my heart.
I am grateful that God provides us daily, hourly and even minute by minute resets. His grace is not limited! Paul shared his own experience with needing grace on a regular basis. When he asked God to remove the “thorn in his side” here’s what he discovered and what he did: “But he (God) said to me (Paul), 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Let that final phrase sink in…”for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
When you find yourself in “a mood”, track your “I” statements and thoughts. Consider realigning your thoughts by looking at the situation through the perspective of others. You too may then discover a change in your frame of mind and experience the grace of God.
JW