Who me? - 2

Grandson Dominick sits by a stack of Idaho potatoes in Orlando restaurant.

Continuing a series on "Healthy Self-examination": we have a tendency to resist seeing that about ourselves which is impeding God's working deep growth within ourselves. Our natural tendency is to cover the ungodliness within by living in darkness. John describes it in
John 3:19-21 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."

Crime is more rampant in the evening hours. Darkness cloaks its activities. Men love darkness .... How would your personalize these thoughts? Are you one with very little self examination; too much or morbid introspection; or an adequate self perception. One way to answer this is to ask someone close to you how they perceive you.

THE BEGINNINGS OF DARKNESS DWELLING
Adam and Eve started this darkness\denial process, covering themselves with fig leaves and hiding behind a tree. They set a pattern that we all tend to follow. We'd rather camouflage the sin within, live in darkness and not face ourselves or God.

Denial is more comfortable. Looking inward can be painful. Even depressing. Why bother to examine oneself if it just leads to greater awareness of selfishness, pride, resentment or unbelievable sorrow.

Yet, if that awareness shows us dysfunctional thinking or behavior, and gives us a greater thirst for God's answers, then the temporary pain of looking inward brings ultimate payoff. A quiet growth in grace and character. A cleaning out of the garbage within. A greater freedom, peace, joy, contentment, wholeness. A more healthy self perception. Praise the Lord. That is what is available to us as Christians.

But it begins with gazing at God sufficiently (Isaiah 6:1-4) to see what is within ourselves that is not of God and needs change. Consistent time in God's Word and asking God to illuminate our minds is of utmost importance. When we begin to look inward there still is a tendency to want to escape what we’re observing about ourselves. One or more of four avenues are taken. We'll begin our next post at this point.