(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
Imagine for a moment that you have a friend or family member for whom you’ve been praying for a long time. One day you feel led to share the Gospel with them and you enter the conversation prayerful that they’ll be receptive. But after you meet with them they respond by saying something like, “I really do appreciate your concern for me, but I admit it’s hard for me to want to be a Christian. All in all, I’ve found Christians to be some of the most judgmental people I’ve ever met.”
Unfortunately, the above scenario has the potential to become reality. There are those outside the faith who have observed or personally experienced a lot of judgment and condemnation from those who claim to be followers of Christ. Even worse, there are many within the faith who have experienced the same!
There may be many reasons for this, one being that we don’t take intentional time to really reflect and identify our own judgmental thoughts. Today, take some time to identify any judgmental thoughts you may have. Then, bless and encourage someone you’ve had judgmental thoughts toward.
READING & JOURNALING:
How regularly do you find yourself seeing others and/or their behaviors through a lens of judgment or criticism?
Today, take the opportunity to bless and encourage someone you’ve had judgmental thoughts toward.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, throughout my life I’ve discovered that there are consequences of seeing everything through a lens of judgment and criticism. Change my heart so that I live in love and not in judgment toward others. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(End with 1-2 minutes of silence)
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