What About Me?

By Jenny Harrison

A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
~~James Keller

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

20130825_01Have you ever been guilty of impatiently passing a car on the road, leaving them in your dust, only to find out that you arrived at the grocery store parking lot a mere thirty seconds before them? Once in the store, have you inched your way to the check-out counter in an attempt to beat an unassuming person headed for the same line?

True confession—I’m guilty! Might I add, the unassuming individual appeared as frayed and exhausted as I felt, but I had twice as many groceries so I justified my actions?

No doubt, we live in a “bigger and better,” “if you’re not first, you’re last,” “if you snooze, you lose,” world.

In our humanness, we have aspirations of being the quickest, sharpest, and savviest, but the word of God references characteristics drastically different from our world view.

Galatians 5:22-23 reads:
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  (NLT)

20130825_02aThe truth is, the times I have considered others above myself, I have never missed an important deadline nor have I felt a significant difference in my physical, emotional, or financial resources. In fact, my heart was full of joy—a stark contrast to the personal emptiness experienced when I made the mistake of viewing the world through the narrow eyes of “me, myself, and I.”

The Bible states in Luke 6:38:
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (NLT)

20130825_03aDear Heavenly Father, I come to you humbled beyond words. How could I have possibly entertained the notion that my “what about me?” mentality would compare with the overflowing gifts promised in your word? I have been the recipient of your generosity over and over again. I plead with you Lord to forgive my short-sightedness when this misguided child decides to, once again, take matters in her own hands. I thank you in advance for the unending grace you will bestow on me. I love you with all of my heart and soul. Thank you for loving me so freely and unconditionally. In Your precious name I pray, Amen.

Copyright © 2013, Jenny Harrison, all rights reserved, Breath of Life Women’s Ministries. Quote by James Keller. Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. New Living, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.

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