The Christian life is not always easy. With temptation, sin, and hatred all around us, it can be difficult to stay on the straight and narrow in our walk with God.
Sometimes though, we can become our own biggest obstacle. The stumbling block that causes us the most grief more often comes from within than from some external force. It's important to step back every once and awhile and make sure we're not falling victim to bad habits that damage our relationship with the Lord.
Are you making it harder than it needs to be?
It's true, being a Christian means holding yourself to a higher standard than the rest of society. It can call for humility, patience, compassion, and service that goes above and beyond what is normally asked of in modern life.
But, sometimes we can make it harder than it needs to be. Instead of holding ourselves to a higher standard, we can end up holding ourselves to an impossible one. The idea of having to be some kind of super heroic, unfaltering Christian can intimidate people. It can wear them out and exhaust them because no matter how hard they try, they always feel like they're not doing enough, that they're falling short in some way or another.
God doesn't ask us to be super heroes. He doesn't want us killing ourselves trying to make it to 15 different events and volunteer efforts. We all stumble sometimes, give into temptation, let our lesser selves get the better of us. We're imperfect beings, and the more you hold yourself to an impossible standard, the lower you're going to feel.
The Christian life is hard enough already without turning yourself into your own personal punching bag.
Are you quick to judge?
This is a trap many of us fall into, despite Jesus' explicitly warning against it in his teachings. Too many of us make sport out of casting the sideways eye on our neighbour. Of indulging in an indignant huff when we see something that doesn't match our standards or values. Of dishing dirt behind someone's back as soon as they leave the room.
It simply isn't our place to judge. The Bible could not make this any clearer, yet many of us still have trouble letting go of this toxic habit, why? I believe that judginess might come from a well intentioned, but misguided place. Sometimes we express disapproval not so much to shame the other person, but to separate ourselves from the action, a way of saying "well, I would never do that” or "I understand that's wrong.”
We need to get away from that reaction. What someone else does has no bearing on who you are. You're silence isn't a tacit approval of something you dislike, sometimes it's just being polite. Leave the judgment to God and try and accept your neighbour for who they are, not who we would like them to be.
Are you impatient?
In today's world of instant-communication, quick-delivery parcels, and 10-minute meals, we're all impatient to some extent. The world moves so quickly that there's no time to waste or slow down. But, when it comes to God and waiting on His plan, we have to learn to accept that there are just some things you can't rush.
God doesn't work to our timetable. While we know he hears us and answers prayer, the way he does it isn't always immediately obvious or exactly as how we would choose to see it done. But, that's okay. Having faith in the Lord and learning to turn our concerns over to Him and trust in Him is a key component of having a fulfilling and meaningful relationship with the Lord.
We all pick up bad habits from time to time. But, as long as we're willing to turn the lens inward, do some introspection, and make a serious effort to break out of these habits, we can overcome them. Don't let trivial preoccupations stand in the way between you and your walk with God.
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