What is your level of self-esteem? Do you think it is too low? You hear about this as a serious problem everywhere you go. Do you ever encounter someone who thinks their level of self-esteem is too high? Yet my word is full of admonitions to be humble and lowly in heart. Do you find anything in my word to tell you to think more highly of yourself than would otherwise? Yet the answer is not to heap condemnation on yourself. That is false humility because it is still an expression of self-consciousness, even if expressed negatively. Let go of your ego management project and look to me. 

Are you familiar with the idea of letting someone off the hook? If you have a case or a complaint against someone and decide not to pursue it this is a common expression used to describe your releasing them from judgment. Have you ever heard people complain about unfair treatment from me? Perhaps you have done this yourself. People assume that I am to blame for all the calamities and tribulations they encounter in life, and in many cases become bitter against me. These experiences may leave you with some difficult questions to struggle with about my sovereignty but the way you resolve them may lead you to false conclusions. You can start by letting me off the hook. 

What are you looking for when you gather with others in my name? Is it important to you that I show up too? If this is what your heart hungers for, then you will be disappointed if it doesn’t happen, no matter what else happens. If you are indifferent to my presence then other things take on more significance. I have promised to be with even 2 or 3 who are gathered in my name. Yet beyond this, you have my promises that if you seek you will find, and that if you hunger and thirst after righteousness you will be filled. Invite me to your meetings. If this is your only desire you can be sure that I seek such to worship me and I will come. 

My word cautions you about making oaths. It is better that you not make an oath than that your oath be false. Have you ever made a firm declaration that you will never do a certain thing? You may not consider this an oath depending on the language you use, but what else would it be? Have you ever done something you said you never would? That thing may not be inherently evil, but going against your stated intentions will leave you conflicted either way. This disconnect can come through your weaknesses, or from coming to greater understanding and maturity. It is an expression of humility to refrain from making promises about what you will or won’t do.