“Feeling sorry for yourself is one of the strongest, most addictive narcotics known to man. It feels so good to feel so bad. Self-pity arises so easily, seems so plausible, and proves so hard to shake off.”
- David Powlison, Journal of Biblical Counseling (Summer 2007, Vol. 25, No. 3) p. 7.
HT: Tony Reinke @ Miscellanies
It is so easy to fall into self-pity; I can attest to that. Once you fall into a rut, you continue in a vicious cycle of blame and criticism - pointing an accusing finger at others, at circumstances and sometimes even at God. All the while pitying oneself, believing that you are a victim. However, if you probe deep enough you find that self-pity is the flip side of the coin of pride - both focus on the self. And the remedy to this self-centredness? The Gospel. The confession that I'm a sinner and yet the good news is that I've been forgiven because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, and the gratitude that follows lived-out will take our eyes off self to focus on Jesus.
Nov 2008
Ollie
- David Powlison, Journal of Biblical Counseling (Summer 2007, Vol. 25, No. 3) p. 7.
HT: Tony Reinke @ Miscellanies
It is so easy to fall into self-pity; I can attest to that. Once you fall into a rut, you continue in a vicious cycle of blame and criticism - pointing an accusing finger at others, at circumstances and sometimes even at God. All the while pitying oneself, believing that you are a victim. However, if you probe deep enough you find that self-pity is the flip side of the coin of pride - both focus on the self. And the remedy to this self-centredness? The Gospel. The confession that I'm a sinner and yet the good news is that I've been forgiven because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, and the gratitude that follows lived-out will take our eyes off self to focus on Jesus.
Nov 2008
Ollie
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