Preaching to the Choir

Have you ever heard a preacher say, "This is for me too" ...or even say , "I have issues in this area"...well that sometimes is refreshing to hear. But have you ever been giving what sounds like great advice then realize you could "learn" from your own comments? I have. It is humbling even convicting, especially giving relationship advice in front of your spouse, you better be on your game after that! I think God gives us insight into things and we are expected to use that insight to help others and along the way even for ourselves. I think we can help others walk through situations and in so doing grow a little too. I know this seems to be shallow water I am stepping into, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. We all have the ablility to be "something" to those around us, we can be standoffish (is that a word?)  We can be one of those people who always enables others when they are not doing right, pat them on the back and say there there, it will be alright. Or we can be Godly and give them (and ourselves) insight into the situation from another perspective that they may not hear otherwaise from thier worldly friends. I choose the latter. I am speaking these words into all of my friends going through rough times right now and also praying that I might use them to better myself too. We are in a study called the Truth project. In it we learn that there are certain biblical truths that are essential in understanding who and why we are. There is the truth about who man was created to be, who he is without God, where he will be without God and who he will be with God. But through all of this is the truism that Apostle Paul wrote when espousing his sinful nature in a battle with his desire to be more like God. It is a daily struggle where sometimes, even though we don't want to, we fail and we do those things which we do not want to do. But the good news is that God is still there, still soverign and lifts us back up from those failings. God NEVER changes. He has the same nature day in and day out. But we fail him, and will continue to do so, thank God for his Mercy and Grace. So the next time you are giving stellar advice, don't get puffed up and feel good about it, look inward and listen to the voice of the never changing God and see what parts of it you can put into practice. None of us are perfect, we ALL fail, but it is how we move forward from those failings that count. God wants us to succeed, he chooses our paths. He lights our way, but when we walk into the darkness, it is not the darkness that frightens us, it is the absense of his light.