In Today’s Gospel readings Jesus is asking, “But who do you say, I am?” (Matthew 16:13-19) That got me to thinking, “Lord, Who Do You Say I Am?” I pictured myself, at the end of the day, Jesus sitting on my bed, answering this question. I will give a few answers He could say about me.
“Well today SR, you grumbled and complained.” “You got angry and upset at someone.” “You let the stress of your life today, throw you into fits.” “You had no faith in Me today.” “You let go of your peace.” “You let worry consume your very life.” ”You were prideful today.” As usual with me the list can go on and on.
What this reading is leading me to do, is take one thing at the beginning of the day, that I do not want Jesus saying about me at the end of it. Make up my mind that I am not going to hear those words coming out of His mouth to me, about myself. Work on it one day at a time, until that characteristic is no longer a part of me.
I think knowing that I am going to ask Jesus at the end of my day, “Lord who do You say I am,” will help me greatly in getting rid of it. To be truthful, “I just do not want to hear those answers about myself!”
Have a great weekend, will see you Monday, and God Bless, SR
I’ve enjoyed visiting your post today. Thanks for visiting mine.
Welcome Patty and thanks for comment. I enjoyed yours very much! God Bless, SR
I need to ask that of myself every night. I have followed your advice about anticipating grace and magnifying the Lord. It has really made a difference for me as I go through the day.
Hey Dancewear,
Thanks for comment. Today has been the first day that I have implemented it and it truly has helped me. What I am working on right now are my thoughts. I have a bad habit of dwelling on thoughts I do not need to, and by the end of the day, I can really be balled up with them. So on the reflection of my conscience tonight when I ask Jesus, “Who do you say I am,” He can honestly say, “You are one who has given to me your mind.” Every single time a thought entered my mind, which did not need to be there, I just looked up and said, “Jesus I give to you these thoughts.” I cannot say it has been immediate or they went away immediately, but at least I am letting God do something about them. You know when I die Dancewear, I do not care if I have a mansion, or streets of gold, all I want God to say is, “Well done.” I know in order for Him to say that, the change has to come in myself, not in others. I am willing to work on this daily, with the failures which go along with it. I am so happy the advice about “anticipating grace” helped you. It has helped me greatly. That is what God wants us to do. You help me as well. My goodness I wrote a book:>) Sorry. Again thanks for comment and God Bless, SR
It makes me think… How would a parent answer a child who came up with that question? Then again, children tend not to even conceive of those kinds of questions, just like we don’t even conceive of asking those questions to God, normally. Then again, children will surprise you.
Who knows what God would say at the end of the day, but there is one thing you know for sure. You are his child.
Hey Biltrix,
Thanks for comment. Yes, for sure He will call me “child.” Thanks for that thought. I also know there are things I do not want Him to call me, and the only way I know to achieve that is by taking it one day at a time, and thinking will He call me “selfish” at the end of the day, and work on it. As usual you send me into deep thought. Thanks for comment on 8 kids blog. I know it was not meant for me, but it answered my question. Which you are soooooooooooo good at doing:>) God Bless, SR
Good post, some insightful points. This is a great mini-examination of conscience, and it has been a helpful tool for me these past couple of days. However, and I think this is important because I think semantics do matter, you ask God “Who do you say I am?” and the answers you gave say what it is you did that day. And that is a wonderful way to improve and build your spiritual life and your witness to Christ to all. BUT. . . I hope and pray that when you ask that first question of our Lord, he will answer with loving compassion that you are His beloved child. A totally different thing than how you could improve your actions to better conform to His will.
Hey Reinkat.
Thanks for comment. Yes, as with the comment Biltrix gave, I “hope and pray also the answer is “child.” I believe with all my heart it is and always will be no matter what. When I know at the end of the day though, that will be my question, I also know God can say a lot of other things. (I know me:>) Those are the things I do not want to hear Him say. There are times He said to Israel they were stubborn, had wicked ways, etc… If I think at the start of my day, that is not what I am wanting to hear, it helps me to better convert my will to His. Thanks so much for a heartfelt and honest comment. God Bless, SR
SR,
You think of the neatest ways to better your life and be more Christlike. That is a very interesting question. We are indeed children of God learning lessons and how to be more like Christ as we go through life. I’m like you in that I have trouble with thoughts and dwelling on this and that. I’ve gotten better about dwelling on the past and what has happened to me but how does one forget or leave the past hurts behind? I still get so angry about the injustices happening in the world. That is another of my weaknesses. I guess giving these things over to God is a start. Or at least trying to by saying a prayer.
Wonderful post! God Bless.
Hey Teresa,
Thanks for comment. Yes, I am always looking for ways to improve, and am finding what I do at the start of the day, makes all the difference at how my day is going to end. I never try to come up with hard things that I know I cannot do, but ones that I can do and will give me peace. I am a dweller also, especially with things of the past, and we do not forget. We cannot help what we remember now can we? Putting past hurts behind us, is another thing. I hear people say, “Oh I am thankful for them, because they made me who I am today.” Well I do not alway think that is the case, because at times bad things become of and within us, from these hurts that we could live without. I am learning if I live in today with them, not yesterday and not worry about them tomorrow, but today and I do it with Jesus, they have a way of not seeming as bad. If I begin to think every morning, “Who will You say I am tonight Lord?” that helps me so much. More then anything at the end of the day, I want God to be pleased with me, and that in and of itself, gets my mind off of me and on Him. That is where the joy comes into play, when I feel He is. Thanks for honest and heartfelt comment as well. Love ya and God Bless, SR