One Tip to Break a Critical Spirit - The Crosswalk Devotional - February 10

The Crosswalk Devotional

Audio By Carbonatix

By Kelly Balarie, Crosswalk.com

One Tip to Break a Critical Spirit
By Kelly Balarie

Bible Reading:
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" – Matthew 7:3 NIV

Who does she think she is? She is only on social media because she wants people to see her, not because she really cares about anyone or Jesus... She's really in it for herself, and she wants everyone online to know—where she's traveling, what she is doing, how she is looking.

My mind started to go down this critical thinking track again. That is—until I stopped—and then I hung my head down in shame.

The hard truth is—I have judged so many. I have sized up people's intent online. I have sized up and surmised people's wrong motives. I made judgments about people's hearts that only God can know. I have hardened my heart towards people who are even doing the will of God... by deciding they are doing it for attention, for public perception, or for their own recognition.

I hung my head down, saying, "God, what do I know?"

Only God knows.

And what I am judging is what I am walking in. Meaning, I think it is about them, but what I am seeing is actually about me. It is worth taking a second to consider.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matt. 7:3)

If I spot it, I likely got it.

When push comes to shove, or when truth comes to light—I am doing what I am judging. I am seeking attention. I sometimes do things so others can see me. I have wrong motives.

No wonder God has shut doors on me; in His grace and love, He wants me to see rightly, so I can then move powerfully with a pure heart. In His saying no, He has created a special room for me to examine my heart. I also see that as I rectify my heart, there is great hope for big, yes opportunities from God.

The truth is, other people's motives are not my issue. My motive is.

What they do is none of my business.

Now I can see that I have been wrong. Dead wrong. But now I turn back to Christ. As I repent of this critical spirit and my wrong motives, they are removed as far as the East is from the West (Ps. 103:12).

Here, I can do a new thing to defeat this critical spirit: I can bless rather than distress others...

What does this look like?

It looks like:

Noticing when I am criticizing.
Stopping that mental track.
Ditching making them my business.
Praying a blessing over them instead.

Essentially, I can stop, bless, and then progress onward. Their motives are not my business. Me, keeping a pure heart? That's the business I am to be about.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

When do you find yourself judging or critiquing people? How might God want you to adjust course? What would it look like for you to bless those who curse you? What would it look like for you to let go of things or people you cannot control?

How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.

Kelly uplifts believers with boosts of faith; be encouraged weekly by getting Kelly’s blog posts by email. Kelly, a cheerleader of faith, is a blogger, national speaker, and author of Take Every Thought Captive, Rest Now, Battle Ready, and Fear Fighting. Kelly loves seeing the power of prayer in action. She loves seeing the expression on women’s faces when they realize – their God is faithful! Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, CBN’s 700 Club, Relevant and Today’s Christian Woman.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!

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