May 16, 2025 - Romans‬ ‭14:4

“Who do you think you are to sit in judgment of someone else’s household servant? His own master is the one to evaluate whether he succeeds or fails. And God’s servants will succeed, for God’s power supports them and enables them to stand.” Romans 14:4 TPT

Lord, it is so easy to be judgmental. We do it without even thinking about it half the time. Please forgive us and help us break this habit in our lives. We want to leave the judging up to you. It is not our place. Teach us to only be concerned about our own lives and do our best to live in a way that is pleasing to you. When we compare ourselves to your holy purity, we will all fall short. None of us are perfect. Help us learn how to remember our own shortcomings and in doing so, maybe we won’t be so quick to judge someone else’s. 

Lord, we want to be people who honor other people. People who are constantly speaking life into those around us. We want to find the positive things in people and focus on those instead of the negative. I know that we would all like others to see us like that. Teach us to see the best in others and assume the best about them as well. Help us learn to encourage in a way that inspires others to live up to what we are speaking into them. If we are proven wrong in believing the best, let us be quick to forgive and encourage the person to keep trying. How much different would the church look if we all lived like this? What would happen if any time we want to judge, we instead encourage? The habit of judging would likely be broken quickly. Let it be so.

In Jesus name, amen.