I judge not

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 7:1 ESV: “Judge not, that you be not judged. This is a great time to remind you that these affirmations are NOT who I AM but who I desire to become.  This is way beyond my normal word count (sorry mom) yet I just had to share the way God spoke to me today.

I absolutely love running with God through nearby nature trails. I run with God and He works on my heart. I may have begun running for my heart now I long to run with God for my heart. There are more things in me that are blocked than arteries.

I hadn’t run but a few paces of praising God and looking around at His nature when the words clearly came to me “judge not”. Why? I have no clue as it was out of context with my praise and my mission.

Shortly thereafter I passed another lonely runner who did not return my joyful greeting. I had already made a conscious observation of the lift in his knees before he was close enough to meet eye to eye. The awareness of his gait preceded the awareness of his un-supportive response to me.

I judged. God was speaking loudly. I judged that he wasn’t very nice and also that at this stage of the path he must have been increasing his performance to impress me.  A few paces further a large limb laid across the path. Again, I judged that this person cared not to remove this obstacle for others. Too busy and too angry to care, I thought.

God convicted me. I know not the cares and concerns of this stranger. Just because I have been guilty of running to impress and I find joy and service in removing obstacles along the path why would I judge the paths of others? I trust God and the Holy Spirit to work on my heart as I observe His nature. I trust it. I trust He convicted me of judging.

I also know that He convicted me of serving Him with a joyful heart and not hoping to be judged favorably from others. Just do what He and the Spirit speak into my heart. Let Him work also on the hearts of those we pass along our paths. He is at work, trust that, don’t judge it.

I also found that kicking limbs out of the way as you run along life’s paths looks a lot like skipping. When we are serving God and others without judgment or fear of judgment it looks a lot like joy. My knees were now lifting high and I was running at a new pace and it wasn’t to impress others. God was lifting me and may very well have been lifting the stranger as well.

Do you judge?

Today’s Prayer: Father God, Creator God, thank You. Thank You for speaking and thank You for revealing my heart. When I commit to run to You and with You I can trust that You and the Holy Spirit are at work. Forgive me for judging others. Thank You for Your grace and Your love. Please write these on my heart, mind and soul. Amen

Tom Raines Jr

Affirmations of God