Judging

I wrote an earlier post on speaking the truth to those around you. (Truth.) To me this coincides with judgement. I've been praying a lot about this for the last several months. I feel like the Holy Spirit has revealed big areas where I am extremely judgmental toward others. I keep it to myself most of the time but I know it slips out. Sometimes it feels good in the moment, as if I'm "venting" to someone. Venting, sharing, gossiping....it's all judgment when I get down to the root. As I continued to pray my heart and point of view be changed God showed up in numerous ways.

1. I know people judge me....and I'm tired of it because usually it's a very misinformed view they have of what's going on in my life. So perhaps I don't know what's going on in others' lives. And even if I did, is it important to focus on those things?

2. For most  some things in life, there is no one right way to do things, although there are definite ways to NOT do things. Those ways would include abusing, or being destructive to, yourself or those around you. Parenting decisions like: educating, feeding or disciplining your children, spending money, being successful, serving others.....

I went through a great devotional by Beth Moore in her James Study here are a few important ideas: In reference to James 4:11-12

-- "Nothing muffles conviction as effectively as entitlement. The mind-set morphs something like this: I am created in the image of God --> I represent God. --> I am Junior God. --> I am like God." Wow is that dangerous or what?

-- Matthew 7:1-2 "do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

-- Romans 2:1-2 "You therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth."

-- God alone knows the origins of our wrecked-up emotions.....We have to bend our knees and go eyes-to-the-skies and say, 'God you alone know. You alone please lead.'"

-- "Then where on earth is the line? The harder but most biblically appropriate answer is seeking to walk in the Spirit. True discernment breeds wisdom. Sinful judgment breeds a condemning spirit."

-- 1 Cor 2:15 -- " People who walk in the Spirit judge things...not people."


So, it's easy to think of those who have judged you and wronged you....but who have you wrongly judged?