Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:14-16 (KJV)
We just finished the Thanksgiving holiday....anyone spend time with family? Anyone spend too much time with family? We spent a lot of time with family over the last couple of weeks and sometimes, "I wasn't pretty." Yes, you read that correctly.
One thing I noticed as I spent more time with family, I started reverting back to my old "family" habits. You know what those are. Those are the habits you learned as a child in your specific family that you worked your whole life to change and as soon as you get back around family there they are. Things pop out of your mouth and thoughts pop into your head that you would never say in a different group of people. My habits were not pretty. Some you could see on the outside, some you could not (thank God), like my judgemental thoughts.
Last week I posted about things you take for granted and one of the things I didn't list but should have was my Bible. Toward the end of the holiday, I was having my worship and reading my Bible and God brought today's text to my attention. The King James Version says "Study to show thyself approved." Notice that word....thyself. As I read and prayed God revealed to me that my behavior was something I should take notice of. And he brought to mind some of the things I said and how I was behaving and he reminded me that this is not who I am.
My heart broke. I don't know why we (I) do this - revert back to old behaviors when we get around old surroundings but I am asking God to change that in me. And then he brought this text "I live in the dust; revive me by your Word." Psalm 119:25 (NLT)
Yes, Lord. Revive me by your Word. Teach me to be more like you and less like me. Continue to change who I am into who you want me to be. Amen