1 John 3:11-12

Paula, thank you for your post! It pretty much summed up what I was going to talk about - the difficulty in keeping our hearts pure in our attitude and behavior towards others. It is most definitely something I doubt ANY of us ladies would even in the slightest bit consider to hurt or kill someone. Of course not in their body, but what about how we treat their souls? Haven't we all experienced the blood boiling in our veins, heart wildly thumping with anger or ....hatred.... or something a bit less, like severe frustration with one who hurts us, disappoints us, differs from us, seems to think he/she is never wrong? We've all probably felt the burning shame of knowing we just spoke or thought badly of someone. It's so easy to always assume we are better than others, that we'd never come across as rude or moody...that we always wear our best behavior clothes. I know I am a transgressor in all of the above ways and more. What purpose does doing any of that serve? When I really think about a simple & honest answer to that, I know it is so that I may comfort myself, so that I may feel better, good enough. I love myself more than others when I live this way.
And suddenly, when I fall into Jesus' arms in repentance and renewed humility, I realize my worldly-born Old Adam self will always self-protect and self-honor upon instinct. It is something else entirely to let the Father of our re-birth take over with his strength and help us on the path to loving others first.
We do not need to defend ourselves; He is our defense.
We do not need to love ourselves selfishly and uncontrollably; He loves us and gives us worth.
We do not need to look the better & right one all the time; He knows each situation and heart, and will bring honor and justice in due time.

God, clean my self-centered, worried heart of all the judgment and hatred and please chip away the walls of defense I hold up against others. I am always, daily guilty and always, daily need forgiveness. Lord, fashion my heart in likeness to your heart of compassion and love. Give me assurance that you love me and know me, and finally grant me strength enough to extend love, deserved or not, to anyone that crosses my path. I trust you to guide the outcome.