Have you received rude or hostile behavior from other people? Who hasn’t? How do you respond? The temptation and default response is to respond in kind. If you can refrain from doing this externally, how well do you control the same response internally? Have you ever harbored bitterness and resentment without saying anything, or played through self-justifying dialogues or speeches in your mind on a repeating loop? You have no control over the way others treat you but your responses are your own. You can agree with this premise and find it is easier said than done. Forgiveness and love of your enemies are as much for your sake as theirs. With me this is possible.

The river within you (John 7:37-39) comes from My throne. It is like a river within you. It will flow all the time. It doesn’t want to stop. It will flow through you to others. It is designed to produce love and happiness and rest for the surrounding people. And also for yourself.

Who puts food on your table? If you earn money to buy groceries then you can claim that you do. From another perspective you could say that I do. From yet another perspective you could say that farmers, field hands, truck drivers, produce workers and clerks do. These are all valid perspectives. Do you appreciate all of them, or do you only think of the first one? If so, it is easy to think that you are more self-sufficient than you really are. You may never meet the people involved in the process, but you are dependent on them. You may not send them thank-you notes, but you should have a profound sense of gratitude that they are on the job. I want you to appreciate all of these perspectives.

Have you ever realized your own limitations, knowing what you wanted to do and realizing that your own shortcomings held you back? And that changing was not as easy as deciding to be different? Humility is not a meaningful concept for you until you get here. The apostle understood this when he said that the good that he would do he did not, and the evil he would not do he did. At this point he cried out for anyone who would deliver him from this situation. He knew where to turn and offered thanks for his deliverance. Do not be dismayed or discouraged to find that you are not complete and sufficient in yourself. This is the beginning of true understanding, and you also know where to turn.