Just a Minute Devotional #35
Reverse thinking
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23–24, KJV)
I knew that asking God to reveal any wicked way in me was risky. It’s never fun finding out my faults and flaws.
I wept at the realization of something that should have been obvious all along. It took a true friend to point it out to me. It brought me to my knees in repentance.
Paul stated that life in Christ is a spiritual battle every day. Our wrongful ways are not always clear, like, thoughtless words, unkind acts, passing judgments, or complaining attitudes.
A simple way of conquering un-Christlike behavior is to reverse our thinking.
I was focusing on myself and my problems. My thick head finally understood where I had gone wrong. I needed to let God be my eyes by putting myself in someone else’s shoes.
It was a humbling experience.
Sometimes we can’t see anything but our own problem and viewpoint. In exasperation, we may blurt out comments that would have been better left unsaid.
Reversing our thinking may not solve our dilemma, but we have peace knowing that the God of the Universe has the situation in His hands. Also, when we put ourselves in the shoes of the other person, we just might think before we speak.
In an 1894 poem by Mary T. Lathrap, titled Judge Softly, she says:
Just walk a mile in his moccasins
Before you abuse, criticize and accuse.
If just for one hour, you could find a way
To see through his eyes, instead of your own muse.
When we look through God’s eyes, He will help us to see with a heart of empathy, compassion, and love. Only He has the bigger picture.
Prayer:
Lord help me to reverse my thinking on me to Thee. Amen
