Jesus:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses.                                            Matthew 6:15

  

Would we argue with or retaliate against those who are physically sick?  Of course, we wouldn't.  We ask Jesus to help us to see spiritual sickness in the same light. We need to learn to act, rather than re-act, for there is NO SUCH THING AS A JUSTIFIED RESENTMENT.

 

 

NEXT WE PREPARE A LIST OF OUR FEARS

 

 

 

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.             Ps. 34-4  KJ.

 

Now with pen and paper we bring all these out "into the light", including the probable one of attempting this list. Let us encourage you. Like some of us, you might prepare a long list, but you will come to see for yourself that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Fears we have, have been acquired through negative experiences, and therefore are removable. To remove fear, we pray for its removal, asking and trusting Jesus to fill us with His love and strength.  We may need to pray this often.

 Trusting and relying upon God provides our solution we need now and always.            Prov.. 3:5,6

 

SELF PROBE

 

We now probe our past looking for selfishness and self-will on our own part in all areas, and especially those where repeating and re-occurring trouble exists.

Self justification makes us feel much "cleaner" than we are, so we need to conscientiously dig deep.  Our experience is that questions we would rather avoid are often the ones that reveal the defects we need to be concerned with.  We list our faults, and our wrongs, and become willing to set matters in order.

Some of the questions we should ask ourselves are listed as follows.  Other questions and other areas for scrutiny will come to mind, as you proceed.

 

Relationships:

Anxiety, frustration, anger, and bitterness are fruits of faulty relationships.

What about my relationships?

Can I see where I have been at fault?

What should I have done instead?

Have I made unreasonable demands?

Have I been selfish?

Did I try to maneuver others?

Did I dominate them?

Did I depend on them too much?

Did they revolt from my domination?

Did they fail me, and let me down?

Did I have the ability to accept the maladjustment’s of others without being disturbed myself?

Do I need an overhauling in the area of relationships?

 

Financial:

What did I do for gain?    What didn't  I do for gain?

Where did I meet my obligations?

Where was I dishonest?

At home, work, creditors, taxation, family, maintenance, other.

How did I support my family?

Was I mean?  Was I extravagant?  Was I generous?  Was I fair?

Did I honor my employer with my ability, and time?

Did I evade responsibility?

Was I honest with my employer's money?

Did I cheat, cover-up, or falsify my employer's records, or expense accounts?