[Discoveries] 07-17-08 People, power and perspective -- Isaiah 2:22 The Message

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*Quit scraping and fawning over mere humans, so full of themselves, so 
full of hot air! Can't you see there's nothing to them? -- Isaiah 2:22 
The Message*/

I used to say that I didn't care what people thought about me. Of 
course, I was lying to myself. I cared a great deal. I wanted everyone 
to like me. I wanted everyone to approve of me. When someone criticized 
me or insulted me, I might not have shown it on the outside, but 
inwardly I was crushed.

One day someone in a place of authority in my life told me that I was 
being "completely unprofessional." In the past, a comment like that 
might have ruined my day. I would have stewed on it all day long, 
defending myself in my mind. But not this time. In fact, I didn't even 
notice my response until a few minutes after she said it.

Then I realized it: Wow! That didn't bother me. Not even a little bit. I 
was completely at peace before I heard it and completely at peace after 
I heard it. In fact, now that I think about it, I heard this on the 
phone while some other people were busy being angry with me, and, you 
know what, that didn't bother me either. This supervisor thought I was 
being unprofessional. That was her opinion. She might be right. She 
might be wrong. Either way, it didn't bother me at all.

I'm not saying that I didn't listen or that I didn't care or that I'm 
not teachable. I'm just saying that the old panic, the old 
embarrassment, the old need for approval is gone.

Peace and courage are byproducts of the presence of God. As God begins 
to fill up the broken places in our hearts, people start to fall into 
perspective. We still love them and care about them. But they lose their 
godlike power in our lives.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries? Victims of 
violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace, wholeness, the 
power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries. Those ensnared by 
addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being restored. Families 
are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in restricted lands who 
face persecution are finding strength and encouragement. Young believers 
are learning how to walk with the Lord, and people are coming into the 
faith for the first time. None of this happens as a result of one 
person's efforts, but rather this is God's work as He blesses the 
sacrifice of many people including yourself. We partner with you, with 
other ministries, and, most significantly, with the Lord. That's how the 
supernatural happens.

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