Comments on: The Cage of Self-Absorption http://sheworships.com/2012/01/09/the-cage-of-self-absorption/ Christian theology for the every day woman. Thu, 17 May 2012 17:49:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Patricia http://sheworships.com/2012/01/09/the-cage-of-self-absorption/#comment-25630 Patricia Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:46:06 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1373#comment-25630 You're so right...I think about myself 98% of the time. My last boyfriend gently asked me how I'd become so self-absorbed and I realized that, in my singleness, I started micromanaging every aspect of my life so I wouldn't notice how lonely I was!I've found that close relationships are the only thing that draw me out of myself and have me DOING Philippians 4:8-9. What better relationship to invest in than my relationship with God? And what you said about obsession is soo true...I can't tell you how many times I've woken up feeling a little insecure, and after beating myself up about my body and my character on the train ride to work, I'm destroyed and practically in tears! Things feelnso much worse after all that thinking and it seems like the Devil doesn't have to do a thing except let me tear myself apart. Obviously, it has to stop. Thanks for this post, reminding us to keep the focus on God! You’re so right…I think about myself 98% of the time. My last boyfriend gently asked me how I’d become so self-absorbed and I realized that, in my singleness, I started micromanaging every aspect of my life so I wouldn’t notice how lonely I was!I’ve found that close relationships are the only thing that draw me out of myself and have me DOING Philippians 4:8-9. What better relationship to invest in than my relationship with God?

And what you said about obsession is soo true…I can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken up feeling a little insecure, and after beating myself up about my body and my character on the train ride to work, I’m destroyed and practically in tears! Things feelnso much worse after all that thinking and it seems like the Devil doesn’t have to do a thing except let me tear myself apart. Obviously, it has to stop.

Thanks for this post, reminding us to keep the focus on God!

]]> By: Emily http://sheworships.com/2012/01/09/the-cage-of-self-absorption/#comment-22785 Emily Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:30:02 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1373#comment-22785 What a great post, Sharon! This came just at the right time for me. Thanks! What a great post, Sharon! This came just at the right time for me. Thanks!

]]> By: Tim http://sheworships.com/2012/01/09/the-cage-of-self-absorption/#comment-22649 Tim Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:15:01 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1373#comment-22649 Great analysis of a problem that plagues men in God's kingdom as well, Sharon. I really like the way you put this: "Constant self-reflection is too small and broken a thing to produce the peace and freedom that comes from reflection on the things of God." And then you ask a wonderful question: "will you ... slowly re-orient yourself toward a grander object of reflection?" That reminds me of Hebrews 12:2 where we are told to fix outr eyes on Jesus, as he is the one who is "the pioneer and perfecter of faith." I am really glad that when it comes to living out my faith, Christ is the one who has perfected it because I sure know that I couldn't do it myself. And then there's 2 Corinthians 3:18, where we are told, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." So when someone tells me of their struggles, one of the things I try to bring up early in the conversation is to ask (gently, gently) where their eyes are fixed. Great post, Sharon. And I'm glad the moving has ended successfully! Tim Great analysis of a problem that plagues men in God’s kingdom as well, Sharon. I really like the way you put this: “Constant self-reflection is too small and broken a thing to produce the peace and freedom that comes from reflection on the things of God.”

And then you ask a wonderful question: “will you … slowly re-orient yourself toward a grander object of reflection?” That reminds me of Hebrews 12:2 where we are told to fix outr eyes on Jesus, as he is the one who is “the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” I am really glad that when it comes to living out my faith, Christ is the one who has perfected it because I sure know that I couldn’t do it myself.

And then there’s 2 Corinthians 3:18, where we are told, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” So when someone tells me of their struggles, one of the things I try to bring up early in the conversation is to ask (gently, gently) where their eyes are fixed.

Great post, Sharon. And I’m glad the moving has ended successfully!

Tim

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