My Worst Mistake

I have made many mistakes in my time. But there is one I can think of that is the worst.


Assumption.

Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines "assumption" as: 1. The act of taking to one's self. 2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof; supposition. 3. Undertaking; a taking upon one's self.

Do you notice how many times "self" is mentioned in this definition? I equate frequent assumption with a huge sin: pride.


I have, in my lifetime, assumed that:


My pain is worse than anyone else's.


My needs are more important and in need of attention than the needs of others.


My leisure time is more indispensable than the time of others or the needs of my children.


I am alone.


No one cares.


Because I am alone and no one cares, it is ok for me to lash out in pain and/or anger.

Because I am in pain or am angry, I am entitled to unload my thoughts on others until I feel better.


All of these things are lies, straight from the father of lies himself, Satan. But I think the tool he delights in using is my selfishness (pride) that leads to assumption that leads to action without consideration. I am so thankful for God and his mastery of breaking me without crushing me. In the almost eight years that I have known Christ, He has slowly but surely knocked me off of my high horse named Assumption.

The thought that anything in me is more important than others is one that I still wrestle with it, but I am thankful that the Holy Spirit has enabled me to wrestle with it instead of continuing to assume that I am just fine the way I am. If I am to die in Christ then I am to live in Him, and it is in Him that I "live and move and have my being". (Acts 17:28) There is not really room for self in that equation, and assumption and pride are facets of self that I have to pray about daily. Lord willing, they have gotten better and will continue to.

And I am also thankful for those in my life who have forgiven me my prideful nature of assumption.

"...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8