A rejection of the pressures to live up to other people's expectations--or even their imaginations. An increased sensitivity to His claims on your life.
A refusal to place expectations on others as a necessity for their "earning" your love, friendship, and encouragement.
An unflinching view of my sin--"against Thee and Thee only have I sinned"--and the broken and contrite heart that is it's beauty.
An unhesitating--and continual--giving of good things to those who have done--and are doing--evil against you. Starting with forgiveness and overflowing with kindness.
A refusal to think the worst about anyone, to imagine that you know someone's motives--and that they can't possibly be good or the product of a deep sorrow they are struggling with in their life. A desire instead to give the benefit of the doubt, to love at all times like the Friend. "Love covers a multitude of sins."
A full acceptance of the truth that our battle is not with flesh and blood. And that we have no chance of victory unless we put on the armor of God--not our own tin shields of self-sufficiency and spiritual hutzpa.
A ready obedience that never presumes or worries about the outcome of the obedience.
A casting of all our cares on Him--our guilt from yesterday, our struggles with today, and our fears of the future. An embracing of the peace that comes as the adversary's roar is silenced by the reassuring, omnipotently unfailingly, victorious hand of the God who cares.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
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