Struggling with Judgments

It is hard not to judge! I struggle with this often. I think of myself as an open-minded person, yet I still find myself judging people. I think the problem is that I'm convinced they deserve my judgment, just as I have taken their judgments over the years. It's the "good for the goose, good for the gander" principal. Right?

I'm so sure of myself and then God sends me a message like this:

“Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself.” Romans 2:1-11 (Paraphrased)

I hear God speaking to me clearly, yet I still resist. Isn't judgment “sometimes” righteous? Again (unhappily) I receive His answer, "Yes, but only when it comes from Me!"

This is not the answer I want to hear. I find myself still trying to plead my case:
Don’t we need to scream our objections, until the world is exactly the way it should be? Isn't that how great change has happened? Consider women's suffrage, civil rights and religious freedoms! The docile crusader types like Gandhi didn’t lead all of those fights. There were plenty of David’s riding into battle, screaming their judgments at the top of their lungs.

It’s apparent that my heart and soul aren’t in agreement. I know that God is telling me to follow my soul…and I'm trying!

I love mankind, I do! But at times I hate the way we treat each other. There is one person in particular that continues to come to mind. I’m angry at her selfish actions and I sometimes find myself judging her. At those times, I just hold her in prayer until I feel compassion for her again. I guess that's all any of us can do, when we find ourselves struggling.

“It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:32

I know that I’m not strong enough to let my judgments go, and that’s why I have to turn to Jesus. I’m constantly asking God to give me the strength to love as He loves. Yet, everyday I feel as though I’ve failed, and I find myself on my knees once again. Will I ever get this right? Will I ever learn to stop judging?

Today, during my morning prayer, I heard God gently answer, “You can only give what you can receive!”

Wow, I finally got it! I’m having trouble judging others, because I judge myself too harshly. My “self” expectations are frequently disjointed and over enthusiastic. Apparently, I’ve been expecting others to live up to my standards, not God’s. I really didn’t like finding this out about myself.

God had every right to treat me like the jerk I was being, yet He whispered to me sweetly. Again, I’m reminded to treat others as I want to be treated. Thank God He is consistent and doesn’t treat me as I deserve. So, today I made a decision. I’m going to shake off my inner jerk and rejoice in the love of the Lord. As for the judging, I’m trying to leave that to God, even though... it is hard not to judge!