“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk” (Isaiah 58.9 NIV).
Finger-Pointing Hinders God’s Power
Finger-pointing is not of God, and anything not of God becomes a feeding ground for the enemy. Yes, the Holy Spirit will lead us sometimes to offer correction to others; however, those moments are always done out of love. Finger-pointing, on the other hand, is rooted in pride, insecurity and/or bitterness and will never permeate God’s love and His kingdom.
As we mature in Christ, we begin to notice those things in our lives that are not pleasing to Him. In fact, what is not pleasing to Him increasingly becomes not pleasing to us. And the best way to get rid of old habits that stifle the power of God in our lives is to replace them with new habits that release God’s power.
Changing the Habit of Finger-Pointing
We have the ability to change old habits. Like any new change, there is a period of adjustment. But transitions don’t have to be unpleasant. In fact, we can see change as an adventure to a better place in Christ. As we walk the path of change, we can remember that we aren’t lost or confused. God is with us and we are right where He wants us to be.
Facts to Remember about Change:
- Change does not have to be scary.
- We are never alone.
- We are moving to a better place in Christ.
- The life of change is an adventure.
Replacing Finger-Pointing with Positive Habits
We can’t just simply get rid of an old habit. We must replace it. The best way to get rid of finger-pointing is to replace it with PRAYER and PRAISE which will unleash God’s POWER.
Often times, we finger-point because we don’t want to take the blame. But if we remember the following three truths, we won’t feel the need to constantly defend ourselves.
Truth 1: We don’t need to finger-point because God is for us.
We don’t need to finger-point and try to defend ourselves because we have a Father in Heaven who loves us, and He wants the best for us and is always fighting for us. We can rest in His work of defending us, knowing that His plans are for our good.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14.14 NIV).
Truth 2: We don’t need to finger-point because the world is not perfect.
We live in a fallen world. Sometimes bad things happen and there is simply no one to blame. But we have the assurance of a world that will have no more suffering, and we can trust that God can use ALL THINGS (even the hurts and pains of the world) for His good to those who love and trust Him (Romans 8.28).
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21.4 NIV).
*Read the rest of this article by purchasing my award-winning book, Reframing: 40 Days to Reframe & Refresh Your Life, on Amazon.
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