Complacency in relationship with God -"knowing" vs "trusting and applying"

James 1:22 - 24 KJV

(22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

(23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

(24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Have you ever gotten yourself dressed for the day, taken that final look into the mirror and seen that you have toothpaste on your cheek, or smudged mascara under your eye, or see that your favorite pair of pants has a split right in the middle of the back seem, then go ahead and walk of the door for the day, and go to work, school, grocery store?

This sounds like a demonstration of what James talks about. When we get a view of ourselves against God's Word - what does that reflection show? And what do we do with it? Do we realize what we see, and take tangible efforts, through the strength of Jesus, to correct what we've examined? Or do we deceive and betray ourselves, walk away and continue as if we didn't see what was right before us, just forget about it?

What is the state of your heart? Do you have those instances where you remind yourself, in thought, that we are to "love" our enemies, turn the other cheek to those who do us harm (not speaking to cases of abuse), that person that just doesn't seem to like you for no known reason, or that person that took credit for your hard work? Do you tell yourself, Jesus said love them anyway, and smile and say something nice and go on your way? That may be the state of "knowing", not necessarily "trusting and applying". You did what your mind said, but what was your heart saying? Was it cringing?

If your heart is lined up with your mind, a response may look like a smile to one of these types of people, then a prayer to God, letting Him know, "I'm struggling with this particular person or situation, for this specific reason, and I don't know how to get passed it, but I want my heart to follow Your heart, Jesus. I want my heart to hurt for what is causing this person to behave in this way, so that I can truly love You, by loving them. Please show me what to do, and how, and I trust that You will bring good from whatever that is, once I take that step off faith and obey You by "doing" it."

Truly, there is healing and relief in living as Jesus tells us to live. Take regular time to spend with Him, whether 5 minutes or hours, but that time you give to Him, invite Him, He will be there. Talk with Him, read His word. Apply it to your life, don't just read it and walk away from it.💙 Your life will be radically changed.