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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Take Responsibility | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

Why is it so easy to lay blame on someone else for OUR problems? Well, when we refuse to acknowledge our roles in creating them, blame tends to be the method of choice to validate our feelings. It actually comes quite easily for us and tends to be the ideal location upon which a foundation of hatred and bitterness can be laid in our hearts.

I'm reminded here of the motion picture "For Colored Girls," produced by Tyler Perry.  In this film, Phyllicia Rashad's character made a profound statement, which--for my film critic friends-- I believe clearly describes the film's premise, as she consoled the character played by Kimberly Elise: "Until you take responsibility, you're just living to die."  A life void of responsibility for one's actions is literally a living suicide. 

When I hear someone rehashing without fail why they are a certain way, or who did what to them when, and how they can't get over how something affected them, it's like seeing the living dead.   Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but it's the truth.  While I understand that many people have experienced situations that were beyond their control, it is not beyond their control to live the balance of their days in bondage to the situation.  With GOD all things are possible to them who believe (Matthew 19:26).  We must take responsibility for our lives even when they've been violated by others because we've still got more living to do.

If your life is a living hell today, then it's up to you to invoke Heaven's influence.  Proverbs 24:12 (NLT) says:
"Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done."
The defeated lives we live year after year are our fault.  The depression with which we have an ongoing battle is our fault.  The low self-esteem we've harbored for decades is our fault.  We have power over all these things and more, and it's time we heed the warning (or recognize the signs) and take corresponding action.

Ezekiel 33:3-5 (NLT) reads as follows:
"When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he blows the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action--well, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the warning but wouldn't listen, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives."

1 comment:

  1. Elton, this is certainly a word that is continually in season. Every since Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed Satan, man has always sought to finds ways to defer their portion of responsibility. Some difficulties we encounter we initially feed or sowed seeds toward them. God is the one who knows all the material and immaterial facts of situations. Therefore, He is able to show us specifically where we erred so we can make the adjustment. Wordup brotha. - Draper

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