Have you ever had anyone tell you, don’t take it personally? This is easier said than done. The default human response is to take everything personally, to see everything from your own perspective and how it relates to you. But this leaves you too much at the center of your own world, and distorts your ability to see things the way they really are. It also gives others undue influence over you and makes you unstable if your personal worth is attached to everything. I told my followers to build their house (life) upon the rock (me) rather than shifting sand to make them immune to flattery or scorn.

Is it easier to see your own faults in others than it is to see them in yourself?  If you see someone who likes to be in control and you didn’t have control issues, you may say to yourself that someone has to steer the ship. If you do have control issues you may resent the fact that it isn’t you. I told a story about removing the log from your own eye before you volunteered to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. When you react strongly to someone else’s offense, is it possible that your reaction says as much about you as it does about them? If you can’t avoid judging others, at least judge yourself first.

Are you aware that you carry my presence, and on that basis can be influential wherever you go, just by showing up? It is good for you to know this, but you don’t need to limit it to that. This presence is intensified when you speak up and interact with other people. Let your mouth speak my words of life, and let your hands heal and minister life. For you are my representatives; ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. My Spirit is present with you always, and you have my promise on that, but my presence in you is expressed through what you say and do. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and hear your words of grace, and glorify me.

Are you familiar with “IMHO” as “in my humble opinion”? This is the way things should be, but how many people do you know who are humble about their opinions? It is no compliment to say someone is opinionated. People are prone to attachments, and most of all to their own thoughts and conclusions. And other people of different opinions feel as strongly about theirs as you do about yours, and this is a source of strife. Recognize that your opinions are neither facts nor eternal truth. Therefore you should hold them lightly, knowing what they really are, and being teachable that you may release them when you encounter higher truth. Then you will honestly be able to refer to your opinions as humble.