I have been having difficulty with someone and honestly - it's hard on me.
Every relationship {to me} is an emotional one. My emotions get attached and its hard for me to separate them when someone gives me "constructive criticism". To me- its just plain out mean criticizing me as a person. I know when I type it out it sounds so silly, but in the moment I usually end up crying to my husband afterward.
This is something I REALLY want to work on... And I am getting better. {a little progress is still progress}
What I don't want to do is get offended and then be rude back. I want to learn to keep my composure, take the "advice" with a grain of salt, and be on my way. Not get my feelings so hurt that I feel like a failure as a person.
My husband reminded me last night that I need to line up what I think about myself (and what someone might say about me) to scripture. A beautiful friend of mine, Michelle, started a blog and on it she has a list of declarations to speak every morning! Amazing powerful things to remind yourself of the promises in scripture and the things that are written toward us in the Bible! (Check out her blog - www.byloveredeemed.blogspot.com )
Today is the first day I read them and I already feel more confident and prepared for anything!
God's truth about me has to be the number one thing in my life! If I know who I am and who's I am -- it won't matter what opinion Sally Sue has about me.
And sometimes it is better to choose joy in that moment and represent it to Sally Sue. Even when we don't feel like it.
So, my encouragement to all you wonderful readers is to start declaring some truth over yourselves and see how your outlook changes and how blessed you will be (seriously check out Michelle's blog for some amazing declarations and let her know i sent you!) and also even when someone is being rude or mean to you -- choose to turn the cheek and show them kindness. We are all fighting our own battles. Maybe us being kind to them is planting seeds in their hearts.
Kind words, daily declarations, and love -Monica
*i really don't know anyone named Sally Sue. This was just for illustration purposes. (: *
7 comments:
I love your vulnerability here! You are an inspiration, Moni. I'll be praying for that joy to overwhelm you! Something that you mentioned has really been on my mind for the past couple months. Offense. I went to a women's retreat and a lovely spiritual mother taught me how to not take offense: Declare this when something offends you "God, I give you this offense. It is not mine and I will not take part in it. Please give me the strength to forgive and love as You would love." It's worked out really wonderfully for me so far =} As you know, our words are very powerful things! Oh tongues, you rambunctious little things. Use it for getting rid of the hurtful stuff. It isn't denying the hurt, it's just choosing not to agree with the offense and choosing to forgive; which gives you a lot of freedom and joy. You already know all of this though! I'm just reminding hee hee.
Sounds like your hubby is a smart smart man to tell you that - sounds like advice we can all take. And THEN when an "attack" does come, we aren't offended because we know who we are in Christ! Not only that, but something that has helped me is the scripture about "we war not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers" - this helps me understand that when someone is rude to me, I know it's not THEM as a person being rude - it's all spiritual and it's the enemy USING them to try to get at me. does that make sense at all? lol. it can be confusing when typing it all out! hahaha. love you friend!
Thanks so much for writing this! I love those declarations! I'm definitely going to print them out and hang them up somewhere where I will see them everyday!
You are so right. It's easy to let the things other people say mess up our days. And I truly believe that's what the enemy wants. I've started writing out verses that encourage me and have been sticking them on my computer screen. It's been a great help!
Well said! It's good to step back and refocus on God's truth about us. I agree with another commenter, your husband is a wise man. Thank God for our Godly husbands :)
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