When you’re too self-righteous
Today’s paragraphs are from a great book on prayer, and include a story about what God may be doing when he doesn’t answer our prayers like we want him to.
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Excerpt from A Praying Life
Sometimes when we say “God is silent,” what’s really going on is that he hasn’t told the story the way we wanted it told.
He will be silent when we want him to fill in the blanks of the story we are creating.
But with his own stories, the ones we live in, he is seldom silent.
Here’s a mini-story that captures what I mean.
While I was speaking at a camp for children with disabilities, one of the volunteer workers felt falsely accused by a parent. After listening to her, I brightened up and told her, “Now you can serve Jesus instead of the parents.”
Having been in similar circumstances, I was genuinely excited for her.
Nothing clears out self-righteousness better than serving someone who is critical of you.
– Paul E. Miller
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- Quit going to church
- Looking pain in the eye
Whoa. That stung like a slap! I guess I needed this… Thanks, Lisa.
Just reading about Paul Miller’s life has a way of doing that to me, Floyd. He’s honest about not being perfect, but he seems pretty awesome to me. I admire people who have special needs children and shine in loving them.