Perspective? Recently I was confronted by a critic who told me that I had a typo in one of my devotions. I was taken aback. But, as I realized he had not seen devotions I had written years ago, I found comfort. I knew how many more lay embedded in those writings. I then found it easier to thank him and also God who had given me the ability to write them in the first place.
Think about it. Nobody knows our faults better than we do ourselves. Yet, knowing this, we so seldom employ it in our favor when others are critical toward us.
God’s Word tells us: “Her husband Elkanah would say to her, ‘Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel1:8).
When we dwell on the criticisms of others, we deprive ourselves of the one thing that can give us comfort in the face of the critic: the love of our Heavenly Father who forgives our sins, covers our mistakes and works with our imperfection. Leave room for God and others when you are faced with criticism. It will change your self-pity into hope.
“Heavenly Father, criticism often comes when we least expect. Sometimes it’s merited and others not. Help us to apply wisdom in all criticisms we receive so that we can remember how our lives are truly gifts and critiques can become the wrapping. In Jesus name. Amen!”
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34) www.thispassingday.com