Getting Easier

It is getting easier to apologize, now that God is working with me on humility!  

I am still screwing up at times, but God is sending me test cases to mess up, so I can feel sorry for my action or words, and then apologize.   I love this!  It has been so hard for me to think I was wrong.  Then if I got as far as “thinking” I was wrong, I certainly wasn’t going over the cliff and “saying” I’m sorry, either to God or the person involved, sad to say. 

Or what if I am right, but the wrong part is I hurt someone in the process of proving I’m right?

I am discovering when I say I’m sorry (and genuinely feel it in my heart,) THAT is when true love happens.  The opposite of arguing my point to death, does nothing more than create a barrier between not only that person, but God also.  How?  Because the sin, is pride.  “Oh I know everything.”  “Boy are you a dork for not knowing this.”  This doesn’t please God one iota.

When I die and meet Jesus face to face, is He going to say “Hey, you’ve been great at knowing everything,  I was sometimes afraid you were going to take over the world.”   Haha.  Really, is it going to matter that we didn’t know everything?   I just want to love other people and I think one of the best gifts we can give each other is humility.

How many people have said to me “I am so glad that you proved me wrong.  You’re the best!”?  Zero.

I realize there are exceptions, where I won’t validate something that is morally wrong and there is righteous anger involved (something that goes against what God teaches.) 

But I am realizing that much of what I will get into tizzies over, usually with my husband,  just doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.  And the worst part is, not feeling sorry for the tizzy topic, keeps me from ultimately loving my husband as much as possible AND loving God because there is the barrier of pride and discontentment.

Luke 18:9-14

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I want to follow in the tax collector’s footsteps, not the Pharisees.  

Matthew 22:37-38

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Pride being stripped is the pathway to loving God fully, and loving others.

Everyone praying for me, thank you!  If you need prayer, please let me know.

56 thoughts on “Getting Easier”

  2. Pastor told us this morning to focus on the positive side of life and not the negative. By sharing our hopes and joys, it leaves little room for the negative thoughts. Keep up the good work, Praying for you.

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    1. Agreed! Thank you for your prayers. Would you mind praying for God’s leading tomorrow? I need to discuss an issue via a phone call re taxes. I’m being held back from finishing ours bc one institution is not caring about correcting their mistake. It is impacting my time and money and I need Gods way in this situation. I’d appreciate prayer.

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  6. God is changing me , too , and this is something I had to change. It’s hard when you just want to be sure someone knows the right way but God showed me that LOVE matters more! Oh 🤦‍♀️. The best part is he has shown me that he loves me even when I’m a dodo ! 😁

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    1. Yes! I love your comment, especially how God loves me even when I’m a dodo. So true! Thank you for following me. I’ll check your posts out too.

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  8. Being humble requires honesty about self first. When self is out of the picture the love of God will flood the soul. Dying to self is hard, takes a lot of time in which I am so glad God has the patience to work with me. Thanks for you honest post.

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    1. Thank you Betty. This is really good. I am slowly learning this thru God’s patience also. Im learning, it is my mind that needs controlled and the only thing I can control. I see goodness when my mind isn’t off on its own, with negative thoughts. I’ve been catching negative thoughts, confessing and renewing my mind with a flooding of praise to Jesus, in all the moments He gives me. That includes finding the goodness in my spouse. Thank you again for sharing your valuable lessons. ❤

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      1. I just listened to a podcast today with Dr. Lee Warren, brain surgeon. He says the brain is prompted always to go to the negative because from an infant we use the negative to teach children, such as, don’t touch that stove and then when they do the brain remembers that negative hurt. It was an excellent podcast. this man is a Christian, has a couple books out, using science to co-exsist with God’s Word. Those men and women who study the body and all it’s aspects and are strong believers are ones to read. Of course God knew all this, so think on these things that are pure and lovely instead of the negative works. But, we the enemy of our soul, the devil and the sin filled world continues to blast our minds with negative. I was 35 before I got saved so have lots of negative memories. They are not gone but they do not rule me, well most of the time. It’s a battle and continues till Jesus takes us home. Obedience is the strongest spiritual tool we can use in this battle. Don’t go on feelings, don’t follow those who do not follow Jesus. Do exactly what you are doing, enter the battle armed with His Word, and the assurance of your salvation and that you are a child of the King. We have won sister, we have won.

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  9. Hi, I’m Queen, I write from Italy. Can I ask you to pray for me for a bigger, loving heart? I have sometimes prayed but I’m not good. I have no faith. I try and call God he speak, cry, sing. But my illness consumes me and makes me fear that I can no longer give anything of myself. Can you please ask him to help me? I try to save people, I try to save children but I don’t always have the strength. Sometimes I get discouraged and cry because I wish that suffering does not exist.

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    1. Hi there. Yes, I will pray for you! Im sorry you suffer an illness that consumes you. 😢 Jesus is our Savior, only Jesus saves us. HE is our best friend. Times are troubled and HE is there waiting for us to turn to Him and know Him. ❤❤❤

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    2. Hi Queen, I just was reviewing comments of this particular post and see you had asked for prayer. I had been praying. Then I lost track of you. How are you? Happy New Year!

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  10. Great post! I love the part about how we are not expected to know everything, and don’t need to!! And something else you mentioned, that I’d love to have a discussion about…you reference “righteous anger”–and I’m wondering if there is such a thing as “righteous defiance”…not defiance toward God, but maybe in defending our faith??
    The reason I’m pondering this is, I’m reading The Harbinger by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn–are you familiar with him, his books? If not, he’s a Messianic Jew–very knowledgeable, fascinating to listen to–and he’s written a ton of books. I had heard that his Harbinger 1 and Harbinger 2 were all about how the USA is doing exactly (in some instances, word for word) what the folks in Israel were doing back in the day (Old Testament). In short, following great destruction they declared that they would rebuild–“bigger and better”–in their own strength and power. It was a pride thing, they weren’t humbling themselves and asking God’s help, wanting to do things HIS way–in fact they were very “defiant”.
    And after 9/11, the massive destruction here, there seemed to be a turning toward God…but it wasn’t sincere or lasting; the initial gestures to seek God were quickly abandoned and the nation went back to prideful, defiant confidence in what man could do alone (“we’re going to come back bigger and stronger”, etc). I totally get this, and wish the leaders would have humbled themselves, repented of pride, and said, “only God can fix this mess, let’s ask HIS help in rebuilding–to come back bigger and stronger In Him, for His glory” (rather than the “we’ll show the enemy how invincible we are!” attitude of pride).
    Anyhoo…it got me thinking about righteous anger, and wondering if there are times, situations where “defiance” could be as righteous as “righteous anger”. Any thoughts?? And if you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it! God bless you Abundantly ❤ Zelda

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    1. So interesting you mentioned righteous anger bc I wrote my upcoming Sunday blog about our fav restaurant and treatment of our waitress and I actually reprimanded people writing bad reviews about this place! Thanks for your thoughts Zelda, I appreciate them. ❤

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  11. Wow, that is amazing! Absolutely no one has said that to me either (thanks for proving me wrong, I appreciate it!) I have been working on this too. Is the world going to come to a screeching halt unless I prove my point, or can I just let it go, is being right really worth the drama it would cause? So thanks for this post!

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    1. Hi there and thanks for your thoughtful comments! I reread this post from more than a year ago and it is a good refresher for me. My husband and I still suffer from this but we’re learning how not to react as much. Just like the food rule (if a piece of food falls on the ground 5 seconds or less, it is ok to pick it up and eat it…haha), I’m working with God on “5 seconds, don’t react and pray” experiment. 🙂 We just had a sermon on this about is it better to be right and divide? Or swallow your opinion and unite? Pride…yuck. Why can’t we be more like our dogs? Haha

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  14. thank you for your honest post and by the way, I struggle with this mostly with my husband. I say everytime it happens I am going to work harder on this but I know from the Bible it’s a never ending struggle for I am flesh and bone also and have an enemy who love for me to struggle and clamp up and not ask forgiveness when it happens, oh this pride that slays me but with His help I can get back up and with power walk into the future in which I will fail at this again. Heaven sounds sweeter everyday. My song for failure, Yes, Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves, the Bible tells me so. I am so grateful I can fall into a pool of love colored red. Blessing on you,

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  15. Thank you for posting. As I’m dealing with as well and can relate. The chastisement of our loving heavenly Father to produce those wonderful fruits of righteousness through Him. 🙂

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    1. You’re welcome. Did you need to apologize to someone? I just witnessed an amazing miracle, where my husband did something pretty darn wrong (to me,) the Holy Spirit gave forgiveness and grace, through me and now God is giving my hubbie, experiences to offer the same to others. Thank you God.

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      1. When we offer forgiveness to others, we free ourselves. I have had to forgive and to ask forgiveness before. I guess we all have, but thank goodness not as of late. Your post is a reminder of the importance of the need to be quick to forgive and to ask forgiveness.

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  17. Thanks for following me, Marla. I’ve repaid the favor and love this post. You bring real honesty and what applying Scripture looks like in action. Keep allowing God to humble you. He’s done the same for me. It can seem almost painful at times, but how much better to be at the feet of our Lord than on the top of our own lonely mountain?

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        1. Thanks Stacey! I appreciate your comment. Seeing God working in my life is the biggest motivator I have, so writing about God Stories is hopefully a way to touch others.

          More relatable than a sermon? Heehee I think our tell our pastor that one. Hahahaha

          Thanks for stopping and encouraging!

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    1. Hi Stacey! I haven’t been blogging regularly with other priorities in life and am trying my best to follow where God wants me. I am renewing my WordPress site so that’s a commitment. Heehee. I do still blog once in awhile though so stay tuned. 🇮🇱🥰

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  20. Hi Marla, absolutely zero pressure to read anything now or ever, but I shouted you out in my most recent post and felt weird not letting you know! I can also totally remove your name from it if you prefer. I personally enjoyed when someone recently shouted me out, but I suppose I should have asked for your permission first.

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    1. Hi Stacey, I’ll check it out! Blogs are a low priority currently between tax season, medical apps, Bible study etc. I envision God following me around with duct tape bc I’m having a hard time keeping it together ❤ 😅 🙃 Take care

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