Stepping Stones: Judging Others…Or Really Yourself?

Transformational Thought

We are so quick to judge. And as judges, we can be impatient and hurtful, especially to those we love. We are called to be disciples and witnesses...not lawyers and judges. When we understand our calling, we will become more patient and understanding with others.

When we take the role as a judge without the intent to love and grow the other person, we are really revealing our own failures. Who are we to judge others? Do we like being judged? When we are judging, being sarcastic, making a critical comment, we get a glimpse into our heart. This harsh attitude reveals some of the insecurities, hurts, baggage, and issues, that are still unresolved and affecting the lenses we look through to see life, others, and ultimately God.

When you have that urge to judge, critique, belittle, or exalt yourself above another, instead of being quick to speak, be quick to self-assess. Do some heart analysis and see what is at the center of your heart that is causing your view of others, yourself, and God to orbit around it. The time you spend in self-assessment can be incredibly revealing and relieving.

For this exercise to happen, during this time of heart diagnostics, be confident that God can take care of you while you are feeling uneasy...whether it be anger, hurt, guilt, revenge, bitterness, anxiety, sadness....whatever the feeling that is prompting the urge for you to judge, trust God to comfort you and not let the emotion rule you.

Today, be quick to listen and slow to speak...and when you do speak, speak as a disciple of God and not as a judge. Let the judging happen as you judge your own heart first, then disciple others next.

Prayer
Father in Heaven, I confess to You, my Lord, that I have become so impatient with others...especially those I love. And through my lack of patience and understanding I become judgmental and angry...saying things I wish I had not said. Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Help me to see others as You see them...tired, lonely, fearful, and lost. Help me be a witness...not a judge. Thank You that I can speak Your word and offer encouragement to those in need. Help me to be patient toward others as You are with me, for it is Your power that works in me. Help to judge myself more accurately and be open to what the Holy Spirit is trying to get me to see about my own heart. Help me to recognize and honor Your Spirit today and pray in the Spirit always. I pray in the name of the one was judged for me, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
I sat among them for seven days - overwhelmed. At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me.
Ezekiel 3:15-16

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:22

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:28-32