This past week I came across a quote by Ray Pritchard, who wrote, "Self-pity is the enemy of all spiritual growth." That statement really resonated with me, so much so that I replied to Pritchard (in a tweet) saying, "This is the simplest, most practical & helpful statement on personal sanctification I've read in quite a while. Thank you!"
Whenever we have a "pity party," usually only three people show up: me, myself, and I. Because we're focused on our ourselves, we're not "looking to Jesus" as Scripture instructs us (Heb. 12:2). Furthermore, we're probably sinning by complaining (Phil. 2:14) rather than rejoicing in the Lord (Phil. 4:4). And we're certainly not looking out for the interests of others, which means that we are not having the mindset of Christ (Phil. 2:4-5).
All of us get down from time to time. If I'm not careful, I can easily fall prey to self-pity. One of the best ways to counteract this tendency, I have found, is to take a "Thank-You Walk." It doesn't have to be long; most of mine are 10-15 minutes. During that time I'll praise God for who he is, and I'll thank him for his many blessings. Scripture says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength" (Prov. 17:22). As one author notes, "being grateful floods the body and brain with positive endorphins and emotions and combined with walking is a powerful energy booster." (Jon Gordon, The Energy Bus, p. 52). Such are the psychosomatic benefits of praise and worship. God has wired us this way!
So why not give it a try? Shut down the self-pity party and go for a "Thank You Walk" instead. In a matter of minutes you'll feel like a new person!
