Its funny how far a little encouragement will take someone.
I continually suffer from Beatdownitis. You know the disease. You've worked really hard on something and you start to actually appreciate the product of your labors. You become intertwined with the object of your toiling to such a level that you feel as though you have invested much of yourself into it, and, concurrently, if you are like me, you've invested yourself too much. This happens fairly frequently in my life, as I strive to better myself, my life, and my art.
But here is where Beatdownitis becomes inflamed. Someone comes along, usually someone you respect a great deal, and with a flippant, careless word - destroys your drive. Dismantles your ambition. Disintegrates your composure. They might not have even mentioned the specific object of your work or art and suddenly you find yourself lower than low. You hover there - inches above despair itself - desparately trying to recover the momentum that has been lost. It often takes an entire day to pick up the scattered pieces.
Part of this is addressed by Jesus in Matthew 12:33-37 when he states this:
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Of course these verses are obviously directed at the religious spirit of the Pharisees, but there is another meaning to me. It speaks also to me that we should always be careful what is in our hearts because idle words are destructive, not only to those around us, but also to our souls. Our carelessness brings out what is in our hearts, and that may be deplorable to others and more likely to God.
Check out Ephesians 4:29 - "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." This should speak volumes to everyone, anywhere. It is a simple verse, yet profound. How often do we transmit Beatdownitis to others? How often do we invite the disdain of God and others. How quickly we condemn ourselves!
However, there is a Guide - an all knowing voice inside every believer that, when we're tuned in, shouts direction plainly into your consciousness. It is the Holy Spirit, and he yokes our thoughts and teaches us the right things to say, if only we will listen. The Bible clearly states that the Holy Spirit is with all believers, which means that all of His gifts are open to us, one being the spirit of wisdom from which this "spiritual conscience" flows. We should open up and allow Him to show us our folly and lead us to grace...
I challenge everyone, myself included, to speak out of the charity of our hearts - to love when we could loathe; to edify when we could demolish; to enable instead of disable. Make someone's day! Make someone happy, and make God smile. Together we can eliminate Beatdownitis!
I continually suffer from Beatdownitis. You know the disease. You've worked really hard on something and you start to actually appreciate the product of your labors. You become intertwined with the object of your toiling to such a level that you feel as though you have invested much of yourself into it, and, concurrently, if you are like me, you've invested yourself too much. This happens fairly frequently in my life, as I strive to better myself, my life, and my art.
But here is where Beatdownitis becomes inflamed. Someone comes along, usually someone you respect a great deal, and with a flippant, careless word - destroys your drive. Dismantles your ambition. Disintegrates your composure. They might not have even mentioned the specific object of your work or art and suddenly you find yourself lower than low. You hover there - inches above despair itself - desparately trying to recover the momentum that has been lost. It often takes an entire day to pick up the scattered pieces.
Part of this is addressed by Jesus in Matthew 12:33-37 when he states this:
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Of course these verses are obviously directed at the religious spirit of the Pharisees, but there is another meaning to me. It speaks also to me that we should always be careful what is in our hearts because idle words are destructive, not only to those around us, but also to our souls. Our carelessness brings out what is in our hearts, and that may be deplorable to others and more likely to God.
Check out Ephesians 4:29 - "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." This should speak volumes to everyone, anywhere. It is a simple verse, yet profound. How often do we transmit Beatdownitis to others? How often do we invite the disdain of God and others. How quickly we condemn ourselves!
However, there is a Guide - an all knowing voice inside every believer that, when we're tuned in, shouts direction plainly into your consciousness. It is the Holy Spirit, and he yokes our thoughts and teaches us the right things to say, if only we will listen. The Bible clearly states that the Holy Spirit is with all believers, which means that all of His gifts are open to us, one being the spirit of wisdom from which this "spiritual conscience" flows. We should open up and allow Him to show us our folly and lead us to grace...
I challenge everyone, myself included, to speak out of the charity of our hearts - to love when we could loathe; to edify when we could demolish; to enable instead of disable. Make someone's day! Make someone happy, and make God smile. Together we can eliminate Beatdownitis!
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