Chapter 13 – A Judgmental, Critical and Suspicious Mind

My prayer is for a rested mind, both alert and receptive. I find that I walk away from the book and the battle takes up again and I can feel it. I am struggling more, but this is a good sign. The Devil has sent his demons – I must be a threat. This is something to rejoice in and not succumb to.

An abnormal mind, like mine, is characterized by busyness, distraction, logic, doubt, disbelief, anxiety, worry, judgment, criticism and suspicion. Do you feel the exponential rise? I am ready for the next section of the book … but I think there is one more chapter of abnormality.

I know I said something about Jenny Garth not too long ago. She is recently divorced from Jim Carey. I wouldn’t normally pay much attention to the words of her mouth as much as the clothing of her body. But she said something that has stuck with me. Wisdom.

Take your complaint, “He doesn’t pay any attention to me. They never acknowledge I’m there. No one lets me do anything.” And reverse the subject and the object. “I don’t pay attention to him. I never acknowledge they’re there. I don’t let anyone do anything.” OUCH! It’s true. One reaps what one sows.

If you choose to be critical of those around you, rather than loving, you are throwing LOVE to the devil who will turn around and attack you with the very weapon you have chosen.

Not to mention, no one really wants to hang around with a judgmental person.

Wow! And here’s another thing imparted upon me by two people within days of each other … The first – when you say you don’t like to be surrounded by drama, chances are you are the one creating the drama. And the second – when you preempt a sentence with “I am not a germophobe,” you probably are. Anytime you have to state up front that you are not something – you probably are. “I don’t like to gossip, but”, “I hate to argue, but,” I’m not one to                                , but …”

This goes hand in hand with how can you possibly remove the speck from your brother’s eye when you have a log in your own. Remove your log first and then assist your brother with his speck.

Yes, I am judgmental, critical and suspicious. How could I expect others to not to reward me with the same treatment? Were I to love others instead, surely I would be rewarded with love myself.

Do not judge others’ sin, but recognize your own and strive to overcome it. Do not criticize others’ weaknesses, but love them and see God’s strength through them. Do not be suspicious of others, but trust them. This does not mean trust everything that is your being to them, but trust that what they do is with the best intentions in mind.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:1-2 (ESV)

Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Matthew 7:6 (ESV)