In My Feels, But Ready To Be Oiled ♡♡♡

 

"Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked" - Psalm 141:4

In a conversation the other day with a dear friend of mine. She said -------> sometimes we are praying "Lord examine my heart". If only we understood what those four words meant, or what exactly it is we were asking. Towards the tail end of this week, it felt like the whole world was after me. From one direction to another. I was being pulled up on one wrong doing after the other. And yep, they stung. But "I am a big girl". So I embraced all of it in the end. hehe.

Some of us struggle with Godly correction and rebuke. Hello? We get defensive or feel attacked, when others call us out on wrong doing [bruh, this used to be me]. Sometimes, we pretend to be truly embracing of it, only to roll our eyes in the next breath or give the person distant marking. And other times, because we may feel exposed, ashamed, embarrassed, we go on to project our insecurities on the other person. But really it all comes down to how we are processing things. The psalmist is saying something super important in our focal scripture. He is saying, that since the bulk of his prayer time is against the deed of the wicked, then he never wants to be found being the wicked. [dang]. If you don't believe me, read the last line of that scripture over again. He also says, that rebuke from the righteous is an act of loving devotion [pow], oil for his head  that he never wants to refuse [pow]. And because of this, he is always willing to embrace "oily strikes".

"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and He chastises every son he receives" -Hebrews 12:6

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses" - Proverbs 27:6

"Better an open rebuke than hidden love" - Proverbs 27:5

Isn't it interesting, that we are all quick to say that we are not perfect people and that we are a work in progress, until when we are rebuked. Somehow we want to act like we are perfect all of a sudden, when we are called out on our wrong doing? How can we grow? How can we be and do better? How can we be more godly and truly impact the world around us, in the way that God truly desires? Even if the rebuke is from an unloving place and from a bitter person: would you be willing still, to candidly examine if it is the truth? And work towards prayerfully making amends?  Leave the messenger to God and thier own conscience, but be sure to take the oil for your head.

Some  of us don't do well with "confrontation" at all, but we can learn to be embracing of it. Changing the way we see it. Especially if it will help us grow. Especially if it will help us be better people. So after I was done being up in my feelings this week, I gave thanks to the God who saw it fit, to lovingly correct me [by all means and through anybody]. Three times, I got the strike this week. Ya, I still get them oily strikes too.

What about you? How are you embracing your oily strikes? Is there someone you need to go back to and say "yes yes I have received it"? or "yes yes you are right, I messed up and I will do better next time?".   Or even yet still, is there someone you need to speak the truth to in love and with all honesty? Finally and most importantly. Are there deep character flaws in your life, you need to humbly put before the Lord daily, until you see the much needed change? Some of it might take sometime, but at least you are honest, and at least you have acknowledged it needs to change. Friends, with deep breaths, we can take oily strikes.

"There is no better test of a man's integrity than his behavior when he is wrong" - Marvin Williams

Any big boys and big girls in the house? :)

Love

SR