Let Your Praise Come from Others

 Proverbs 27:2

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

someone else, and not your own lips.

This is a challenge for most of us.  We would much rather make sure everyone knows all the great things we have done instead of waiting for someone else to tell the world.  I think, so often, our biggest fear in this matter is that no one will.  We fear that no one will talk about how awesome we are and tell others about us.  This fear drives us to boasting and praising ourselves.

How much do you enjoy being around people who are constantly singing their own praises?  How much fun is it to spend time with a self-promoter?  How often do you fall into the trap of being one of these two characters?

Being around proud and arrogant people is miserable.  People get sick of them very quickly.  If this is you, I have news for you:  The reason no one is talking about your awesomeness is because you aren't.  No one cares about how great you think you are.

Letting someone else edify you and tell others about the great things you have done is difficult.  It requires humility.  Most of the time, the things other people think are awesome about you and tell others about is stuff you don't think is that big of a deal.  It's just a natural part of who you are, but some people see it as what makes you amazing.

This brings up another point about boasting.  Often the stuff we boast about isn't really that great.  People hear it and think, "Really?  You think that's awesome?  Everybody does that, they just do it better."

What we say, and how we say it tells people alot about us.  If you want people to think highly of you it's time to stop making that the focus of your interactions with others.  Be humble.  Talk about them.  Ask them questions about themselves and be impressed with what they tell you.  Stop trying so hard to be impressive to others.  Stop praising yourself and let others praise you-if there is anything worthy of praise.

God bless.

Jason Fredrick

Take Jesus at his Word

John 4:46-53

Once more he [Jesus] visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.  And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.  When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

Jesus replied, "You may go.  Your son will live."

The man took Jesus at his word and departed.  While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.  When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him at the seventh hour."

Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live."  So he and all his household believed. 

Do you ever have trouble with taking Jesus at his word?  Jesus has made a number of promises to us in his Word, the Bible.  He has promised to provide for our every need.  He has promised to take care of us.  He has promised to be with us always and never abandon us.  Do you find it difficult to remember and trust these promises when you're experiencing great challenges and difficulties in your life?

What if you stopped worrying about every little thing in life and trusted Jesus to take care of it?  

What if you stopped giving into your fears and starting trusting Jesus to carry you through that situation that is scaring you?

While it can be difficult to let go of fear and worry, you can.  You can lay it all before Jesus and trust that he will take care of it.  When you turn to Jesus and stop worrying about possible outcomes to situations, you find that things rarely work out as badly as you had been imagining.  Jesus is able to work in and through other people to resolve problems in simple ways that you have overlooked. 

When you let go of fear and trust Jesus you find that those things you have been fearing aren't that big of a deal.  Whether it's stepping outisde your comfort zone to take on a new responsibility at work or having a difficult conversation with your spouse; Jesus is able to give you the ability to handle it.  And often you will find that fear creates scary monsters out of situations that you are capable of handling.  You can do an excellent job making that presentation at work.  Your spouse loves you and wants to have that conversation with you because they want to strengthen your marriage.  

Do not be afraid that others will react negatively toward you when you step out of your comfort zone.  Even if you mess it up on your first try most people are gracious enough to appreciate that you did try.  Too many people won't even take that first step. 

Fear and worry are birthed out of a lack of faith.  Fear and worry hold us back from so much in life.  The only way to truly kill fear and worry is to take Jesus at his word:

Matthew 6:31-34

So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?"  or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?"  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kindgdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

You can lay your fears and worries at the feet of Jesus with confidence, trusting his love for you, because he has displayed his love for you by laying down his life for you.  He is the atoning sacrifice that paid the price for all your sins.  Because he has redeemed you with his blood, you can trust his love for you.  You can trust his greatest promise: all your sins are forgiven and you have eternal life through faith in him.  Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you.  In Jesus, you have nothing to fear.

God bless.

Jason Fredrick