I am amazed at how many judgements I can make about others in a very short timespan. And, I notice that I judge more when I am upset with myself. Turning my anger outward at others for blame. That’s easier. I separate myself when I do this. It is a character defect that I don’t want to have any more. I will pray humbly for God to remove that one. (Step 7)
I notice when I am peaceful and centered spiritually, I don’t judge, or if I do, I can correct myself quickly and give them over to God and pray for them. Stay in my lane. Take it inward for self-correction and then back to God for guidance.
I learned of a reading in the Big Book of AA early in sobriety. Such a great piece of wisdom. It has helped me along the way, specifically for resentments I have for others.
Page 552 in the Big Book of AA, “Freedom From Bondage” (story.)
“If you have a resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or the thing that you resent, you will be free. If you will ask in prayer for everything you want for yourself to be given to them, you will be free. Ask for their health, their prosperity, their happiness, and you will be free. Even when you don’t really want it for them and your prayers are only words and you don’t mean it, go ahead and do it anyway. Do it every day for two weeks, and you will find you have come to mean it and to want it for them, and you will realize that where you used to feel bitterness and resentment and hatred, you now feel compassionate understanding and love.”
It worked for me then, and it has worked for me many times since, and it will work for me every time I am willing to work it. Sometimes I have to ask first for the willingness, but it too always comes. And because it works for me, it will work for all of us. As another great man says, “The only real freedom a human being can ever know is doing what you ought to do because you want to do it.”
I want to ask God for more room to grant others the GRACE that I received. I would be willing to bet that someone has prayed page 552 over a resentment for me!
Try it.
It really does work.
It worked for me.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37
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