Things People Say

This morning while reading Ecclesiastes 7 I came upon this verse: "Do not take heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others."

Something to consider for sure. I don’t know about you but I hate when people don’t like me for whatever reason but at the same time I know that in a position of leadership you can’t lead based on what people think or say or you will never get anywhere. I have come to learn that when people say things that are hurtful, that God has brought that arrow for my good. God is sovereign even over the arrows that can hurt us so deeply. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I would like to share my part of a discussion I had with a sister who was hurt deeply by someone close to her. She didn’t know what she had done to cause this turning of a heart against her by one she loved, but she was deeply hurt. Hopefully this will meet the need of someone today who finds themselves in a similar situation of hurt:

 

Dear Sister in Christ, here is my initial thought, but what I have pasted below is

the real counsel that you will want to consider…you will want to read it

again and again.  But first, here is my feeble thought….if you don’t

know what someone is mad about, then this shouldn’t involve you…the reason

you are so stirred is because you are feeling the pains of your own

personal rejection…if you have done nothing wrong, then there isn’t

anything for you to do, other than allow this time to humble you and

repress your self-love.  God is behind the scenes placing pressure on

areas of your life that are still alive and too sensitive…oh, what

counsel that I should heed myself!  So therefore, I would not approach

this other person until your sensitivity to the situation is more fully

repressed/dead…but in the meantime, you can still do good to them when

God opens the door in His good timing.  What you are about to read, says

it all…

 

You might already have this book…it is my favorite devotional

http://www.lamplighterpublishing.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RCDOFV1&variati

on=&aitem=8&mitem=13

 

 WHEN God purposes to make

us die to ourselves, He always

touches that which is the very essence

and center of our life. Thus doth He

apportion crosses. Let yourself be

humbled; silence and peace under

humiliation are a true benefit to the

soul. One is sometimes tempted to talk

humbly, and it is easy to find a thousand

fine pretexts for so doing, but it is yet

better to be humbly silent. Talkative

humility is to be suspected; in talking,

self-love relieves itself a little.

Do not be angry about what people

say; let them talk, while you try to do

God’s will. As to the will of men, you

could never come to an end of satisfying

it, nor is it worth the trouble. A little

silence, peace, and union with God

ought to comfort you for all that men

may say unjustly.

You need all your resolution in your

present position, but at the same time

your quickness of temper requires

checks and impediments. Possess your

soul in patience. Renew yourself often

in the presence of God, so as to calm

yourself, to humble and adapt yourself

to the little ones. Nothing is really great

save lowliness, charity, distrust of self,

detachment from one’s own opinion

and will. All stiff , harsh goodness is

contrary to Jesus Christ.

 

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides

you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is

the strength of my heart and my portion

forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall

perish; you put an end to everyone who is

unfaithful to you.

But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

that I may tell of all your works.

Psalm 73:25-28

 

I will share the rest of the story tomorrow…