Looking inward and changing is a hard teaching. The nearer that Jesus got to the cross, the fewer the people who followed Him. His disciples said:

“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? …The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” John 6:60b-61,63

In other words, follow God’s Spirit and do not follow your fleshly desires—they are no help to your life. What is so hard about being wrong? Nothing. It is a lie that people think you are intelligent if you win the argument. The truly honored wise can sincerely say, “You are right and I am wrong.” The brilliant wise can freely say, “I am sorry, forgive me.” A rush of love comes between two people during these times of humility. You may keep your pride, but know this… you cannot have a relationship nor a friendship with your pride. Pride and loneliness go hand in hand. Pride and joblessness go hand in hand.

It is hard to swallow at first that you have sinned, and even harder still to believe that all this time the resulting self-pity and self-focus were a result of not repenting. But try this, and you will see that happiness and good relationships are in your hands, inside your choice and control. When you see the joy and hope that you receive from changing yourself instead of projecting, you will want to swallow this truth and make this change.

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