Today as I was finishing my journaling to Jesus, I asked, as I always do, “What do you want me to know from you for today Jesus?” He instantly asked me how it is with my soul? This question has been asked quite often of late and so today my response was to ask Him why He kept asking me that question? What was amazing to me was that while I was writing my response to His question, the reason He was asking me became clear. He was asking because He wanted me to self-examine. I had written that He already knows how I am so why would He ask me so often? He knows I do not self-examine naturally. I live out each day taking care of what needs to be done and doing it as well as possible and adding a little flavor (humor) to it as often as I can.

As I went from journaling to reading the two devotionals and then the Bible (the scripture was from James) I found what Christ was wanting me to find. James is writing to the churches which had begun. He was reminding them, in part, to love their neighbors as themselves. This is exactly what Christ had told His followers when they asked Him which commandments were most important. In order to love your neighbor well, one has to be anchored in their love for self. That would mean they take care of self so they can take care of their neighbor.

Today I have 6 counseling appointments in a row. I have things ready for them, but Jesus was wanting to to know if I am personally ready for them? Have I surrendered Kathy to HIm for today instead of worrying about leaving her alone; have I surrendered the unknowns I would worry about to Him, have I made sure I am anchored in who I am in Christ? Well, now that I’ve walked this path, I have done this. Amazingly, having walked the path of self-examination I find it leaves me humbly assured. There is no arrogance (as my dad would accuse) in loving self as Christ told us to do. Thank you Jesus!