Good morning people who take heed to themselves

Joshua 3:5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

I’ve read this verse many times and quoted it almost as much. My focus has always been on us as a people having ourselves set apart (consecrated) for what God wants to do. This is an accurate exposition of the text.

But today as I read it again, the word that leaps out at me is ‘yourselves’.

We get ourselves into trouble when our focus is more on changing others than on changing ourselves. Many marriages fall apart because the focus is on changing the other person. Many relationships and friendships are damaged because of this unhealthy obsession of fixing other people’s problems.

Now there is a need to lovingly be involved, and even at times, to help people see their faults. But two things need to be noted here. Firstly, motivation is essential and the way that it is communicated. People should feel we love them enough to help them. Secondly, the purpose of sharing is to help them move forward into health and healing, not to vent our frustration.

But a greater focus and prayer for all of us needs to be “Lord, what do you need to do IN ME?” In other words, focus on consecrating ourselves, not everyone else around us.

Where is your focus for change