Here's a thought.

Was just browsing through my Facebook updates and this popped out at me from the Daily Scriptures page:

People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:2-3 NLT

Makes perfect sense and is so completely accurate in so many scenarios. Doesn't almost everyone think they're perfect? Or at least that they're doing the "right" thing? I've begun to doubt whether or not any of us know that the "right thing" is any longer. It seems to me that more often we only do things with our own motives in mind. I think we all need to at least try to commit it all to God, to give it all to Him so that we are not just another person guilty of this mistake. I don't believe that I am perfect or pure, but I know that sometimes my motives are not what they should be. For example many of us tithe simply in the hopes that God will look upon us with favor and let us have something that we want. And it's the same with a lot of human relationships, we go into them expecting to get something in return and we're only there for them when it's convenient for us or even worse, when it benefits us. I won't be that kind of person this year. God has really filled my heart with unshakable joy and love lately and He's put it in my mind that I need to give that joy and love to those around me, and I intend to. Life is so precious and so breakable. It only takes a few spur of the moment harsh words sometimes to wipe out a person's self esteem entirely. I know because I've done it and I've been on the receiving end of those kinds of words as well. And the worst part about a situation like that, is that one the words have left your lips they can not be unspoken as badly as you sometimes want them to be. They are ingrained in that person's memory forever. You may forget that you said them, I know I honestly couldn't tell you half the awful things I've said, but the person you spoke them to will never forget them. They crop up at unexpected moments to take the joy from your day. They're the first things that pop into your head when you're depressed or sad and alone. I believe the human tongue to be much more dangerous than any other body part that we possess. So much can be destroyed with the utterance of a few simple cutting words. It is my opinion that we all need to think more before we speak, love more before we hate, and just try more in general to be more patient, more kind, more understanding, and more forgiving.