"Others demote you. God claims you. Let the definitive voice of the universe say, 'You're still a part of my plan." - The Numbers of Hope
We make the terrible mistake of assuming other people are mostly wrong until they say (by word or action) something negative about us, never considering that their unkindness arises from their own insecurities or immaturity. Instead, our own uncertainties and faults add weight to these "sticks and stones" and the unkindness embeds itself deeply into our hearts and minds, making forward movement difficult and Satan is satisfied.
Trying to become more self-confident won't fix the problem since we've failed many times. Loving ourselves only takes us so far since we know how unlovable we can be. Shooting our mouths off in similar retorts or actions only reveals our insecurities and immaturity, leading to further hurt and adding guilt. So, how do we handle the demoters in our lives? We don't. We don't focus on them at all.
Instead, we spend our time living for and listening to One opinion, One response, and only Two thumbs up. We fill ourselves on the fullness of God until we're too full of His Love to take in the hurtful words of a "demoter." We live to discover the "extravagant dimensions of Christ's love." (Ephesians 3:18 the Message)
"My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father Who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit --
not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength --
that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in.
And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love.
Reach out and experience the breadth!
Test its length!
Plumb the depths!
Rise to the heights!
Live full lives, full in the fullness of God!"
Ephesians 3:14-19
The best Christmas gift we can give ourselves this year will be to trade in the "sticks and stones' other people throw at us for the Solid Rock Who was born in the straw and died on a tree for us. We should pity the demoters and live for the One Who promotes Love and lives in us.
Father, thank You for loving us with Your own, unconditional, unmatched Love. We crave the Love You don't hold back. You are perfectly kind and You draw us in and use us. Please, show us how to let You surround us and fill us so we have no room for sticks and stones. May we accept Your Truth as we conform to Your image. Deflect all other opinions we have of ourselves as we lose ourselves in Your unfathomable Love. In the Name of Jesus Whose extravagant Love lives in us
Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado
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