Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” -Genesis 3:13 (NASB)
Ever misplaced something, hastily (and maybe loudly) assumed someone took it, and then find out that you actually misplaced it the whole time?
I know some folks like that. Somebody is their go-to scapegoat: Somebody took their missing item. Somebody broke their possession. Somebody else did it, and they have to pay. As I like to joke, this Somebody person is obviously very busy, and they must be stopped.
That very same behavior happened back in the Garden of Eden. God already knew what transgression had occurred, but He asked His children for their account. Eve blamed the snake. Adam blamed Eve. They didn’t take responsibility for their choices.
To this day, it’s easy to blame someone or something for how we behave. But, in truth, we get to choose how we behave. It’s time to look inward instead of pointing our fingers outward.
Shall we forever be victims of our circumstances? Shall we forever imprison ourselves by acting like life only happens to us, and that we have no choice or free will? Or shall we give God the glory by standing upright to taking responsibility where we should, and avoid the things and people who are not honoring Him?
After we look inward, we look upward. And when we do that, it’s amazing how the noise and chaos doesn’t fill our senses the way they did when we focused on them…internalized them. With a God focus, we can face responsibilities in a way that honors Him, and trust and know that God will help us handle the consequences, carrying us through with a smile.
We can finger Somebody else, or choose to take responsibility for stewarding the lives God gave us and keep moving onward and upward.
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