Some of these areas have been in my friendships (which I’ve written on before), handling agitation (this was explained in last week’s blog), and listening to my elders. I find it hard to listen to my elders because I am stubborn, though I know I shouldn’t be. It says in Isaiah 46:12 that the stubborn hearted are far from His righteousness, and that is a place I don’t want to be in.
It’s difficult to obey someone, when you already have your mind set on a direction. Tonight, I made a butternut squash alfredo pasta. I had made it a couple of weeks ago, while my parents were in Canada, so I already knew the steps to take and the ingredients I needed to add to enhance the flavor. However, my mother is home now and usually watches over what I make in the kitchen, tonight was no different.
As I was cooking my dish, my mom kept telling me things to do like, “Use the food processor, not the blender”; “Try adding smoked paprika as a substitute for the bacon”; or, “There’s too much in that blender, take some out.” Every time my mom gave me a tip, I found myself getting frustrated with her interference and with the way she was shadowing me. My mind was so set on the things I had to do, it was almost impossible to take these things into account.
Though tonight’s dinner was a success, I am feel very convicted. As I was laying on my bed thinking about the day and the immaturity of some of my friends, I was reminded of how immature I am! It was as if God was pointing His finger at me and quoting Luke 6:24, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Being called a hypocrite is no fun. In fact, I’d like to avoid being called that for as long as I can. From now on, I need to think before I judge, and take into account all the times I have done something wrong. I’m praying that God helps me overcome this stubbornness, so I won’t get frustrated when my elders offer another route or tell me to do something I don’t want to do.
Tonight’s dinner was also a real eye-opener to how closed I am to other people’s input. Instead of doing it my way all the time, I want to listen to what others have to say and really consider it. The Bible teaches that we are to obey our parents because it pleased the Lord (Colossians 3:20), and that is exactly what I want to do.
Lord, help me to obey my parents, grandparents and other elders. Open my eyes so that I will see the direction they are trying to lead me in. Take away this immaturity, so I will be more mature in You and understand Your ways, for Your ways are not my own (Isaiah 55:8), amen.
When all you see is a trail of scars
When I'm hopelessly broken
In a moment of doubt
You're my only way out
So I stand again
Take another step because of You
I can, I'm not scared cause You are where I end
You are where I end" - Colton Dixon