How many peple have needed to speak out the title of this post?
Unfortunately I have. I’m not too pleased with myself for needing to say this to myself, but the need remains.
In some ways I do try to keep this thought in my head somewhere, even if it is towards the back of my head. But there can be times when it might need to be brought to the front of my mind.
The reasons for this could be many and varied, but one scenario is playing through my head at the moment.
It’s the scenario where you step out and do something for The Lord Your God, and then you are successful in your efforts. Then people see what you are achieving and say something along the lines of, “Your doing really good there, well done.” You then listen to this praise, and then think something along the lines of, “Didn’t I do well.”
If you have ever reached this point, then maybe you need to re-read the title of this post. 🙂
I’m trying to not count how many times I’ve needed to re-read it. 🙂
It’s good to receive praise though, ….. isn’t it?
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Romans 15:2 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
A quick search and I have found a couple of scriptures that says it is good to build each other up. (I know that there are many more.) So it is good to recognise something well done and then give encouragement.
But how will that encouragement be given and received?
Will you receive the encouragement and think, “Didn’t I do well.” And then get a little bit too much head growth?
Is there a better way to receive encouragement?
Give the praise and glory back to God….. maybe?
Hopefully the answer to that one is a resounding “YES!”
In the first instance, this could be saying, “Thank you Lord for giving me success in ….. and for the praise that people are giving to me now.”
In the second instance, could it be trying to give the recognition for a job well done, back to God in an outward expression?
Such as “It was the Lord who enabled me to ……”
I really struggle with doing this one. I can become a bit tongue tied and self conscious and can feel that I’m putting on a coat of false humility, when in actual fact, all I’m trying you do is actually acknowledge that anything good from me, is more about The Lord My God having His way in my life.
This blog site could be one such example of this.
I’d like to think that what I write here are not my words alone, but that there is something extra. That extra being The Lord Our God, speaking through what I write.
I’ve already written a post about this called,
My words don’t matter, But His Words DO!!
I do actually believe that the good worth reading on this site are His words and not mine. But to speak that to someone who is saying well done to me, still kind of feels awkward to me.
So I do try to keep the first instance in my mind of saying, “It’s more about You Lord.” Hopefully I’ll be able to move onto the second instance of actually being able to speak this out (without looking and feeling awkward whilst doing this. 🙂 )
A phrase comes to mind, “practice makes perfect.” Maybe I need to practice a bit more. ???
My next thoughts on this are leading to, “Can we give praise in such a way that we give glory to God whilst encouraging the person in front of us?”
How could this work out in practice???
For me personally, I would like it, if when people speak to me about something I have written or said to them, that The Lord Our God then speaks to them about, that they would try to not say, something along the lines of, “What you wrote/shared was really good.”
Instead could they try to say something along the lines of, “The Lord spoke to me through what you wrote/shared.” and then just leave it there. That would be enough, for me to know that I am opening a door and leading someone closer to Our Lord God. (This site is called “Wannabe Christian Doorman”, opening a door that leads to Our Lord God, is the aim. 🙂 )
If you do go to say anything of praise to me (or anyone else), but you then hear a small voice that says, “Keep quiet.” Then please, listen to it and keep quiet.
It could possibly be that my head is already getting too big and it needs to shrink a little. 🙂
Yes I do long to hear a well done, just like everyone else, but I want to remain in step with Our Loving Heavenly Father more than anything. If that means just doing what He asks of me, and not seeing the results, then that’s OK by me.
I’m beginning to think that this post could end up being a non stop ramble, so for a last thought I’ll look to ….
Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
Wannabe Christian Doorman 