The Most Powerful Way To Deal With Self-Criticism
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
1 John 3:18–20 MSG
My son Brandon is an amazing salesman.
Over the past five years working for my parents, he’s expanded their business astronomically. At 25, they’re already working on a plan for Brandon to take over the business.
If you know my dad at all, you know what a BIG deal it is for him to hand over the reins!
Brandon loves the thrill of the sale and making his customers happy.
Recently, Brandon called completely excited to tell me about a deal he just made on a trailer sale. A previous customer contacted him in a very difficult situation, having just experienced a personal disaster. Brandon‘s heart was moved with compassion.
When he called the customer back and told them how he could work things out, the customer actually cried, thanking him repeatedly. At that point, I asked, “Isn’t the feeling you get helping someone else out as good, if not better than the feeling you get making a big money deal?” Brandon’s response, “Absolutely mom, absolutely.”
The Most Powerful Way To Deal With Self-Criticism
In this epistle, John imparts such wisdom when he educates believers about God’s love towards us and how we benefit by sharing that love with others. In this week’s verses, John shares how loving each other…the art of practicing real, honest, sincere love towards others will even help defeat those internal negative, condemning thoughts of self-criticism we often struggle to place on mute. Basically…
Helping Others Helps Us
How can you honestly criticize yourself and say you’re not a good person,
or that your life doesn’t count when you’re doing good things for others?
Just as my son’s experience at work and his involvement with 100 Guys Who Care Brantford reveal,
It’s an exhilarating feeling when you help others!
Like putting arrows in a quiver; helping others gives you something to throw back at the enemy when he detonates those negative, self-critical thought bombs off in your brain.
So, if you struggle with self-esteem issues, the advice given in 1 John 3:20 could be the best coping mechanism for you today…. get out of your brain and go help someone in need!
Prayer
Father…Your love is so good! Just when I think I understand how much You love me, I learn there’s a deeper well then I ever imagined. It takes a lifetime to grasp Your love. Help me to silence self-doubt with Your love as I spend my time helping others; not introspectively criticizing myself because…YOU love ME! In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]Get out of your brain and go help someone in need! 1 Jn 3:18-20[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]*Helping Others Helps Us* 1 John 3:18-20[/tweetthis]
Will you indulge me? I’m hoping you’ll soak in this verse a little. I found it interesting to compare these verses in different translations and I hope you do. Bible Gateway is an easy way to look up Scriptures online, I love the YouVersion Bible App for my phone to look up verses, highlight and listen to the Bible read out to me in many versions. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Bible Hub for looking deeper into the original meaning of Scripture and other helpful tools they have.
Compare these verses in different versions. I found these versions help bring a different deeper understanding to what John was teaching: NIV, NLT, The Message, GOD’S WORD ® Translation
1 John 3:18-20 BIBLE HUB BIBLE GATEWAY–THE FOUR SIDE-BY-SIDE
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
Here’s a link to the group Brandon is a part of, but they have these groups all over North America. I would suggest googling “100 Guys Who Care Your Town/City Name” to find the closest chapter to you.
100 Guys Who Care Brantford
First Posted: April 18, 2018
Reposted: March 8, 2023
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin
