Helping

http://knowgodknowlove.com/

Joshua De Gracia

I don’t know if you noticed, but most Americans always seem on the go.

“We are often wrapped up in the problem of trying to live according to schedules. Everything is rush, rush, rush. Soon we start losing the time to have fellowship with family and friends and even the time to wait upon the Lord. Everything seems instant: instant breakfast, T.V. dinners, fast food counters-all is ready in five minutes. So when going to church they seem to pray, “Oh God, answer me. I have no time-five minutes-and if you don’t answer me quickly, forget about it.” They are not waiting upon the Lord.” – The Fourth Dimension by Dr. David Cho

While reading this passage in the book, I took a step back and literally looked at the “man in the mirror.” In the essence of my busy life, I at times am so focused on helping others that I neglect areas in my life that I need to work on. In times that I don’t have time to “stop and smell the roses,” I glad I have people that constantly speak into my life and keep me and my walk with God in check.

This is what has been spoken to me as of late: “I know how passionate you are about helping others, but don’t forget about yourself and your heart. You can only heal others hearts if your heart is healed first.” —Amen.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Anytime we are given advice or correction of some sort, we can take it one of two ways. Either we accept it and learn from it or choose to become defensive. Our natural instincts say the second, but God calls us to humble ourselves and take everything with a grain of salt, whether the advice is good or not.

This time, I thought about what God is doing in my life and our ministry. Immediately I thought about how I tell others “you can’t help others if you aren’t healed first.” So, I had to check my heart and make sure it was in the right place. We are opening up our relationship series in about two weeks so I had to make sure that my heart was “good to go.”

This is what I’m getting at: Sometimes we need to stop and not only see whats going on outwardly in our lives, but check yourself from the inside out.

To be tough on others and lenient with yourself is hypocrisy. To be lenient with others but tough on yourself is holiness. Accountabilies, continue to hold me in check. If you don’t have people to hold you accountable in your life, it’s best that you get someone.