Good Morning My Friends! No pity parties today my friends. Let us have grateful hearts no matter what!
Pity the Man
Pity is a sympathetic sorrow for someone’s suffering, distress, or unhappiness. When we show pity for others’ unhappiness or issues in life, we display compassion and understanding. Showing pity for others is good.
On the other hand, self-pity is not good.
Self-pity is feeling sorry for yourself. It’s a self-indulgence for your own sorrows and hardships. When you have self-pity, you believe you’ve suffered more than is fair or reasonable.
I hate to tell you this, but self-pity is another symptom or form of pride.
Pity Parties
Here’s more truth, every single one of us is susceptible to self-pity. We all do it from time to time because we’re born sinners.
“For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5, NLT).
Unfortunate as it is, we all suffer from being self-centered, which means we have a powerful urge to protect our egos and our “rights.”
When we decide we’ve not been treated as we think we should or have the right to be treated, self-pity takes control and that’s when the ugliness begins.
We pout, sulk, and obsess over our own hurts and trials, whether they are real or perceived.
And that’s when the party begins!
Here’s how it’s sounded in me before:
- Poor me.
- Things are so bad for me.
- I can’t believe that person just insulted ME!
- Boo-hoo, I can’t have a new dishwasher.
- I’m not as young looking as I once was. I don’t like how I look.
- I don’t have a private office. That’s so unfair!
Basically when we have our pity parties, we’re telling God that He hasn’t treated us right.
How many of you have ever had a pity party for yourself?
How many of you have ever been at someone else’s pity party?
They aren’t so fun, are they?
When we indulge in self-pity, we’re actually allowing ourselves to enjoy our ugliness. When we behave this way, we’ve intentionally stepped into making our sulking so important that we’ve placed ourselves higher than God in our lives.
Truth is we need to not think so highly of ourselves, not even for how we’ve been wronged.
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” Romans 12:3, NIV).
Have you ever thought of it in terms of your pity party, your self-pity? I have and I have to say, I’m not proud of this.
We’ve all succumbed to pride when we indulge in self-pity.
Grateful Hearts
It’s impossible to give thanks while clinging to self-pity because a self-indulgent attitude is not focused on gratitude. Self-pity can’t be thankful at all for what God has allowed.
I know it’s not easy to not give into self-pity, but there is a definite way out of it.
We are to give thanks in all circumstances, no matter what!
“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, HCSB).
We can intentionally choose to live with grateful hearts.
Practical Application
Today, let’s focus on having grateful hearts. Let’s be ferocious about this today, so that we can intentionally live today with a praise party, not a pity party.
Many times I go to the Psalms to help me thank God no matter what’s going on in my life. The good, the bad, and the ugly all take their place in my life when I bow before God, accept what is, and thank Him no matter what. By the time I’m done, I’ve left the pity party and have intentionally attended a grateful party.
Here’s one of my favorite go-to Psalms. I hope you’ll say this to God today to help you refrain from self-pity and embrace a grateful heart.
[callout]A Grateful Heart
Psalm 138 (NLT)
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord, for all of them will hear your words. Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways, for the glory of the Lord is very great. Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me. The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.[/callout]
Just for Today
Refrain from Self-pity. Embrace a Grateful Heart!
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