John 3:22-36 | What am I going to do about it?

As I wrote yesterday's devotion, it really challenged me to prayerfully think and bring these things before the Lord. I do not want any area of my life to be self-forwarding, but to be Christ-forwarding. I truly want a "more of You, less of me" mindset with the Lord. As I have studied and found Scriptures that talk about self-seeking, I have taken them to heart and weighed within myself. Nevertheless, I found myself convicted by what was shared yesterday.

An area that I found to be a weak spot for me is in the personal category. When it comes to public, while I enjoy the spotlight, I really want to be representative of the Lord. When it comes to private time, that is filled almost exclusively with time in the Word and in prayer. But when it comes to those personal friends and family relationships, I find that I really fight with myself for preference. I can get jealous of others when I am preferring them and none of it is returned. I find my mood can shift when I don't get the attention I desire. While I am not doing anything inherently sinful among them and most conversation revolves around the Lord, I like to have opportunities to share my thoughts and opinions on things. I like to share my own stories instead of hear others'. A major part of making the name of Jesus famous is giving preference to one another. Admittedly, this can be hard for me.

So what will I do about it?

As I shared yesterday, a lot of that time in private spent with the Lord will pour out into the other two categories. That is where I am beginning my battle. I'm going to take time and reflect on what Scripture has taught concerning these things. Moving beyond that, when I do have time to invest into these personal relationships I want to look for opportunity to give preference to those I am with and help lift them up. Being fully satisfied in the Lord enables me to give freely without needing to take in response. I understand this truth. I just haven't lived it out as I ought. I'll look to submit to the following verses:

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
-Philippians 2:3-4

14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
-James 3:14-18

I want my life to be a reflection of Christ in every single way. Whether I am in public, among friends and family, or entirely by myself, I want Jesus to be the focal point.

What application are you taking from the lesson found in our weekly passage?