Romans 12:6
“So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.”
Confront your defects of character to maximize your walk with the Lord. Call them what they are – hindrances to a productive life in the Spirit – and begin to work through them one by one.
Here are 6 common ones, some I even know too personally:
1. Pride – Spiritual pride, social pride, racial pride. God opposes pride. ” . . . in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) don’t let pride be your downfall.
2. Insecurity – Insecure people are generally unwilling to take risks. But faith in God is reckless, it isn’t safe. The key to overcoming insecurity is to truly believe and live knowing that God is wit us.
3. Moodiness – Moody people are like the wind; unstable. They tend to be undependable. Moodiness is hard to overcome because being defensive about it often arises when it’s being dealt with. Confession to God and prayer helps.
4. Perfectionism – This is the obsessive need to always be flawless in everything. Imagine trying to be a perfectionist while serving on a mission trip. If you’ve ever been on a mission trip, you know that being flexible is key to all of the hiccups that happen. A perfectionist would probably bring things to a hault. They can’t affirm themselves, and when things don’t go as they planned, they tend to shut down or shut out. We need to learn that God loves us “warts and all” and He can use us even though we’re nowhere near perfect.
5. Overly Sensitive – These people are constantly licking their wounds and turning inward. They are often unaware of others pains and struggles and needs because the focus is on them and their wounds and who wounded them. Increase your sensitivity to others by turning your focus from inward to outward.
6. Being Negative – Negative people are depressing to be around. Their personality says no to life in general. Being negative is rooted in fear, and the antidote to fear is unwaivering faith in God.
Related Text:
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” – Hebrews 3:13
