Can I tell you I don’t have it all figured out yet? Can I tell you I am still learning? And maybe, just maybe, I don’t want to enter some people’s drama. Is that bad? Idk. Guess I’m just spunky today…
Have you ever met a Know it All? Someone who just loves to get in your face and tell you what you need to do with your life. Lots of time they use the Spirit of Religion to do it too. Yeah, you better do this or do that or you won’t get into Heaven. Like they are Jesus or something. I think they believe they are the ones holding the keys to the gates and they get to decide who gets in. We have it all wrong in their eyes, and they are the only ones who have it right. So you better sit down and take notes or something.
I used to be a people pleaser. I used to go to every single event at Church. All so people would see that I was committed to God, that I cared, and that I mattered. I did it for the wrong reasons. And I trusted everyone with everything. Not the wisest idea. Can I say that there are some very sick people who go to church – I know I was one of them! I learned with experience who I can trust and who likes to gossip. Who builds people up and who tears them down. All by keeping my mouth shut and watching and asking God for direction. Test the spirits right?
Today I give myself permission not to attend every event,and not to trust every single person who walks through the door – even if they have the ‘title” thing going on. I will not be ashamed either. It is my choice. You can’t shame me into going, or doing – guilt is not a motivator, just as fear is not a motivator. Just because someone has a ‘title’ doesn’t mean they are trustworthy. Lots of people like to abuse power.
I am so weary of the ‘know-it-alls’ who pretend to have everything all figured out. Their pride and arrogance is annoying. And their need to be right ALL of the time. Know what I want to tell them? “Don’t take yourself so seriously!” and “I don’t really care if you think you are always right and we are always wrong. It’s not a contest.”
I know a guy who will interrupt Bible Study, interrupt Worship, interrupt the Sermon, etc. It gets annoying. Like he is Mr. Know-it-All. Yes, he has been told to shut up. But what do you do when they don’t listen? I won’t even go to midweek service – I tried once and confronted him on his attitude. Know what he did? Stormed out like a little girl. Yeah. A two year old temper tantrum in a 50 year old man. All because I said I did not agree with him. I really don’t need any more drama, I have teenagers, lol!
What do you do when you don’t agree with someone?
Do you keep quiet?
Do you say something?
How do you handle the Know-it-alls?
I know it is because of his insecurity. Feels like he has to prove himself and his beliefs to everyone he meets. Maybe I’m just a troublemaker, idk. I mean, after service he makes it a point to corner other women, regardless of their age, and cram his beliefs down their throat. And he will sit there and argue with them. Like it is a contest and only He gets to win. I look for it every Sunday. And know what I do? I go interrupt him. Is that bad? I hate seeing him prey on the elderly women, or the ones that are hurting. I mean really. Yes, he is married. But he disrespects her too. Just feeling frustrated I guess. I know, forgive him, pray for him. Yeah, I am. But how do you get him to shut up?
Diana, I find myself in a similar situation or with a similar approach. I find that in the last years, I have pulled away from my know it alls….what had happened is that when I open myself up, and I allowed them to influence my inner feelings, I was not leading life by my intuition. That of course, has done more harm than good.Let the know it alls talk, but in no way listen 😉
lol, great advice Heather! Bless you my friend, Diana
Idk . . .but I loved that you look for him cornering someone on Sunday and go interrupt him!!! :).
Thanks Debbie – God bless him anyway, know it all or not! Diana
Oooo, this is a good one. I’ll be linking to this. Next months attitude: Humility & Pride
Lol…thanks Ana 😉
Ms. D, I’m afraid of the teen years. I’ll need you to guide me through it.
I can only imagine booking a table next to the teen’s dinner table, or following the
date incognito. No cleavage allowed and watch those hands and flowers, please! :))
Better yet,maybe I should lock them in their rooms until they hit the age of 25 or until the rapture, whichever comes first!!
Lord please give me a thick skin and thicker comprehension; I’m going to need it!
Love you (and I don’t know how you do it),
t
Oh t, you crack me up. I am learning just as they are. We all do the best we can with what we have. We all want the best for our kids. We don’t want them to hurt, or go through what we did. Yet, they have to take their own path. It is the most wonderful journey my friend. We love them, yet at times we just want to deck them. Welcome to a relationship – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Yet our love for them never changes. Thank you Lord, for showing us how to love, no matter what. Love you too t, d.
Thank God that he loves us and does not grade us on whether we attend all the church meetings. It is more important to listen to the Lord and obey what he tells you. There are times when one can attend church but not be in relationship with Jesus. It might be more productive to love on your teens than to attend a spiritually dry meeting.
Amen, but I did this for so long! I thought I was a good little Christian girl based on how many time I went, and how many things I did. Yeah, pretty shallow relationship. It was still all about me and what I did.
Thank you for having patience with me Lord and teaching me about relationships. I really had that ‘relationship’ thing all messed up. I have two teens at home still, both going to Homecoming this year. Dresses, ties, dinner, flowers, and love…I am blessed! Thank you my friend.
😀 You’re welcome!
Thank you for this!
I don’t go to our mid-week service either. I don’t go because I think it is particularly uninspired. A lot of prayers are offered for different missions, which is nice—but nothing is ever brought up concerning: our need to repent & repentance, prayer for Jerusalem, prayer against ISIS and other evils, prayer for a revival of the Holy Spirit.
And maybe I’m just too spunky too, idk. But I think ‘playing church’ is not only a waste of time, I think we will be called on it, by our Lord when each of us has to give an account.
Does that make me a bad person? I hope not. I’m involved in prayer partnerships with Anne Graham Lotz and another group out of DC. I want to participate and pray daily for the things that are coming against all of us everyday. But I really am not interested in marshmallow fluff prayers that are repetitive and not in line with what God tells us to pray for.
I’m beginning to become very annoyed with lukewarm, people-pleasing preaching. I do have to repent of this attitude. But at the same time, I need to listen to the Holy Spirit. It’s a tug of war that goes on in all of our lives.
t
Your messages are always on point…the image and words on pride outstanding…thanks for sharing both!
Thank you, blessings to you too “someone”
A beautiful message…thanks for sharing it my sister!
Narssisists do not like discipline and believe they are right and the whole world is worng. I merely ask them questins which only leads to the right answer, which is not theirs. They tend to avoid me which is good because sad but true they are notning but trouble
I like that idea ropheka, thank you!