I love that old Gospel Song, It’s me it’s me O Lord Standing in the need of prayer … Not my brother not my sister … Not the preacher not the deacon … Not my father not my mother … But it is me O Lord standing in the need of prayer.

It is so easy to project onto someone else and not to take ownership of my sin. During the Great Smoky Mountains Marriage Retreat I was exposed to an enlightening statement on what happens when I don’t own my bad choices:

An act contrary to what I feel I should do for another is called an act of self-betrayal. When I betray myself, I begin to see the world in a way that justifies myself betrayal. When I see the world in a self-justifying way, my view of reality becomes distorted (*Arbinger institute).

A good illustration of this is Mary and Martha. Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus enjoying a spiritual feast from “The Word”. Martha is in the kitchen serving. But she gets distracted because of stinking thinking. Maybe she thought: “Why, that lazy sister of mine, is so selfish. She never considers me. She always takes advantage of me.” It is so easy to slip into feeling like the victim. But it is self-deception that leads to bitterness.

Friend, stop confessing other people’s sins (blaming and playing the victim). Instead, go to God in prayer and tell Him, “It’s me it’s me O Lord Standing in the need of prayer”.  *t.ly/rwOw