When we fixate on past failures, hurts, or even successes, our attention shifts away from Jesus—the Author and Perfector of our faith—and onto ourselves. That kind of self-focus is actually rooted in pride. And pride is something God takes seriously because it’s a form of idolatry. We quietly remove God from the throne of our hearts and place ourselves there instead. That’s exactly what Satan attempted to do. He failed—and now he works hard to get us to repeat the same mistake.

Actively seeking God’s guidance in your decisions is an essential aspect of living under His authority. In every situation, whether it’s a major66 life choice or a simple daily decision, pause and ask yourself, “How does this honor God?” This introspection encourages you to evaluate your motivations and align them with God’s purposes.

We try to clean ourselves up first, like children trying to wash themselves at the sink, and all they do is smear around the dirt.