Its very difficult to get out of our own way. It can be hard to shed those selfish attributes about ourselves. And sometimes we don’t even notice the blind spots in our lives that can keep us stuck on ourselves. We complain, make excuses, create bad habits, that don’t just hinder our relationship with Christ, but also hinders our relationship with others. We point fingers at God for what he didn’t do and stay away from church because its not our top priority and neither are the disciples there. We have other stuff going on. Even our prayers can be full of me, my and I. But our lives are not about ourselves. It’s about the interests and needs of people. (Philippians 2:4 -Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.) On March 3rd, 2021, this was the day that helped redirect me to the needs of others. I was listening to Moody radio that morning, as I dropped off my daughter to school. And a woman called in, desperate for help from an abusive relationship. The woman was making the call from her car with her children with her. She called in knowing this was her last option, knowing she needed help. Help that could only come from one place. From the saints of God. There was no mistake or accident that she called into Moody radio that morning to get the help she needed. It was all God’s plan. But imagine what would have happened if there were no Christian outlets for people to go to for help? Or if we, as believers did not make ourselves available to those in need? Putting our needs, wants, desires to the side. Dying to ourselves to become more like Christ so that we can be more willing to do Christ’s work. So I ask the question, what are you doing? What are you doing to help your neighbor? What are you doing to help your church? What are you doing to help spread love, joy, and peace and kindness. Well, here’s a few things I know we can do to get out of our own way,
Start Praying For Others (Not Just You) Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Prayer is a powerful tool not only for us, but for others as well. There are countless prayers that have been answered for people we will never see. As long as our prayers are genuine, God hears us. I know we have all sorts of things going on, but so do others. So lets keep in mind, the needs of other people.
Stop Complaining and Start Working Mark 16:15 – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The Bible has given us instruction to do everything without complaint or grumbling (Philippians 2:14) and has told us we are the means by which His word gets to the world. Not just by what we say, but what we do. So we have to go out to that plentiful harvest and put the work in.
Start Focusing On Christ, Instead of Yourself Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Sometimes, we can miss the true mission of the Gospel, because we think of the Gospel as a way to get what we want and treat God as a genie. I mean, he did die for me, took away my sins, loves me, blesses me, keeps me safe, helps me…etc. But the Gospel is about making the most of Christ and the least of ourselves. When Jesus came, even He came to serve (Matthew 20:28 – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”) So stop deciding what you will or won’t do. There is more at stake than you think. There is more to gain when you die to yourself and start focusing your attention on what’s happening around you. What needs can you help meet outside your front door?